Another tranche of fuel subsidy has been distributed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 as of September 26, 2022 to RSBSA-registered farmers and fishers in the region.
To help farmers and fisherfolk ease their burden on the impact of oil price hikes in the country, a total of 9, 837 endorsed-beneficiaries from the region benefitted from the fuel subsidy program of the government.
One of the beneficiaries, Fortunato Esil, a member of Cablalan Corn Farmers’ Association received a PhP3K fuel discount card and explained how the fuel discount helped their cooperative.
“May sheller kami, may gilingan pero noong sobrang nagmahal na yung presyo ng gasolina, tumigil po ang aming operations. Buti na lang may programa ang Department of Agriculture na nagbibigay ng fuel subsidy kaya makakapagpatuloy kami dahil may libreng gasolina,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cesar Sumayang Jr., fisherman from Glan, Sarangani also received the fuel discount card and shared how it eases the financial burden of small fishermen like him.
“Ang problema sa amung pagpanagat, naapektuhan sa pagmahal sang gasulina. Akung gibuhat mangutang na lang ko para makabalik kog laot, bayaran na pud sa pagdunggo. Kaya daghang salamat na nagkaroon ng ganitong programa,” he stated.
Corn farmers and fisherfolks have received a fuel discount of 30%, or a maximum of PhP 3,000 while purchasing gasoline or diesel fuel through the Universal Storefront Services Corporation, a local partner of the DA.
In addition to the current total number of fuel discount beneficiaries, the DA XII continues the distribution of fuel subsidies to the different provinces and municipalities of Region 12.
Fuel subsidy program
Concurrently, the DA – XII has been actively encouraging farmers and fishermen to use available agricultural mechanization in the region to modernize and boost productivity in the region’s agriculture and fishing industries. As a result, one of the most substantial operational expenses in farming and fishing is fuel.
To assist them, more than PhP49 million is set aside for corn farmers and fishermen in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region through the DA’s Fuel Discount for Farmers and Fisherfolk (FDFF) Program which aims to extend assistance to farmers and fishermen who own agricultural or fishing machinery, either individually or through organizations.
A corn farmer must be included in the RSBSA and the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS) to be eligible for the fuel subsidy.
On the other hand, fishermen must be registered with FishR (Fisher Registry) and must use motorized bancas with 3 gross tons or below, registered under (Boat Registry).
The subsidy programs of the government like the FDFF Program under the agency’s National Corn Program have been helping farmers and fishers like Fortunato and Cesar to continue their farming and fishing activities.
