Mindanaotoday.com | DA-10 aids farmers, fisherfolk via RSBSA, fuel subsidy
By: Recthie Paculba
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Empowering the agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 targets to enlist all farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural workers in the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) as well as to provide the fuel subsidy in response to the current price hike of commodities in the country.
Carlota Madriaga, DA-10 regional technical director for operations, shared during the Talakayan sa PIA, May 17, at SM Downtown Premier, that the current tally of RSBSA is now 280,166 in the region of which 123,160 are from Bukidnon, Camiguin (2,733), Lanao del Norte (63,660), Misamis Occidental (40,128), and Misamis Oriental (50,485).
“All of the farmers, fisherfolk and farm laborers can register in our RSBSA so they can avail assistance from the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies,” Madriaga said.
With their extension arm services, Madriaga said DA-10 tapped the local government units (LGUs) to register the farmers, fisherfolk and farm laborers in the RSBSA through their municipal, city or provincial agricultural offices.
Information can also be obtained in the said offices about the programs and services for the sector.
Also, to help farmers, especially in the midst of fuel price hike, DA-10 targeted 9,585 corn-farmer recipients of the fuel discount card amounting to P3,000 per card or P28,755,000 total budget in the region. As of May 16, there are 6,511 remaining beneficiaries for endorsement.
“We currently have a subsidy program that aims to assist our farmers and fisherfolk, specific for the corn farmers and fisherfolk, and we call this the fuel discount card, which will soon be implemented as we have already submitted the list to the Central Office for final validation and we will then rollout the said assistance very soon,” Madriaga said.
Validation is undertaken at the regional and national level since the lists that the agency received from the LGUs sometimes have duplicate names of the beneficiaries. After thorough validation, Madriaga said the regional office will then facilitate the distribution of the discount cards.
Aside from the said interventions, DA-10 also provides farm machineries, implements the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), and other interventions on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and organic agriculture that aim to address food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth through increased farm income and productivity. (RTP | PIA-10)