Around 4,800 farmers and fisherfolk from Leyte’s 3rd District received 2,325 pesos cash assistance under the PAFFP program during its initial district-wide rollout, covering the municipalities of Villaba, Calubian, San Isidro, and Tabango on May 20, 2026, held at Villaba Gymnasium.

This activity marks the first phase of implementation for the entire district, with succeeding waves of payout caravans to be rolled out in the coming schedules.

The assistance is extended to eligible farmers and fisherfolk registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and those who are actively engaged in farming at the height of the oil crisis.

For many beneficiaries, the assistance represents immediate relief for basic needs.

One recipient, Andrea Catadman, shared how the aid will directly support her daily survival and medical needs.

“𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘪 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘶𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘥-𝘢𝘯, 𝘶𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯. 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘸𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪. 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘮𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘪𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘰. 𝘕𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘬𝘰, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘩𝘪 𝘨𝘶𝘥 𝘮𝘪 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘪 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢,” she shared.

[I will use what I receive to buy rice, viand, and medicine for my illness. We are truly happy to receive this. We are really struggling here. Even my leg is already in a very difficult condition. I am even limping, but we still came because we need this since we no longer have other sources of income because we are already old.]

Her account reflects the reality of elderly farmers who continue to endure physical hardship while relying on agriculture for survival.

Villaba Municipal Agriculturist Renato N. Casas emphasized that the rollout underscores the government’s sustained commitment to the agricultural sector.

“𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘺𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰, 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘶𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘶𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘺𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘨-𝘶𝘴𝘢,” he underscored.

[This activity today is important because it proves that our government is attentive, caring, and gives importance to everyone.]

Casas added that the initiative reflects continued efforts to ensure that support reaches every qualified farmer and fisherfolk in the district.

As implementation continues, the PAFFP program is seen as both an economic intervention and a recognition of the enduring role of farmers and fisherfolk in sustaining local food systems. For communities in Villaba and neighboring municipalities, the rollout signals not only financial assistance but also the promise of continued government presence in the countryside.