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650 rice farmers in Eastern Samar just got a much-needed financial support. Through a β‚±4.5 million distribution from the DA-RFO8, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) is putting cash directly into the hands of growers to help them navigate rising production costs and safeguard the region’s food supply.

The payout was conducted in coordination with local government units and municipal agriculture offices in Eastern Samar, with USSC (Universal Storefront Services Corporation) serving as the financial technology or official disbursement partner to ensure the safe, fast, and transparent release of funds to beneficiaries.

The assistance covered farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and are tilling two hectares of land or less. Each qualified beneficiary received β‚±7,000 in cash assistance, intended to support farm inputs and household needs during the planting season.

Fernando Lapesura, a rice farmer from Maslog, Eastern Samar, said that the assistance would help cover farm-related expenses especially building a house near to their farm.β€œπ‘†π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘Žπ‘›π‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘”π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘” π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘ β„Ž π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’, π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘ π‘˜π‘œ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 β„Žπ‘–π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘’π‘šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘Žπ‘›. π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘˜π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘‘π‘œ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘˜π‘Žβ„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘œ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”β„Žπ‘–β„Žπ‘–π‘”π‘‘π‘Ž 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘˜π‘Žπ‘šπ‘– π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘œ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘š π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Ž. π‘π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘€ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘‘π‘œ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘šπ‘– π‘šπ‘Žπ‘ π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘š π‘›π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–.”

[With this financial assistance, I can build a small house near our farm. Currently, our house is distant from our farm, hence, we needed to stay overnight since the area is so remote. Moreover, we can use this house to rest when we feel tired from planting.]

Another farmer, Rosaura Baldago, 50 years old rice farmer from Oras town, noted that the cash aid would allow her to buy additional farm inputs before the planting season. β€œπ‘Œπ‘Žπ‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘˜π‘Žπ‘›π‘” π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘š, π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘‘π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–. 𝐴𝑛 π‘›π‘Žπ‘–β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘” β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘¦π‘Žπ‘›π‘Ž, 𝑝𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑒 π‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘ π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘œ π‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘›,” she said.

[The planting season will start soon. This financial asssitance we received today, we will use it to buy farm inputs needed for our farming activities.]

While grateful for the aid, farmers expressed hope that the government would continue to address long-standing concerns such as irrigation access, stable farmgate prices, and affordable agricultural inputs.

Local officials echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to match financial assistance with productivity-enhancing programs to ensure food security and improve farmers’ incomes.

The distribution marks a milestone in a broader regional effort. With further RCEF interventions on the horizon, the DA RFO8 reaffirmed its promise to keep the rice sector competitive and ensure that no farming community is left behind in the face of evolving economic challenges.