Amid escalating production costs driven by rising fuel prices, around 2,400 farmers in Baybay City, Leyte received 2,325 pesos as a financial assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolks implemented by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 on April 29, 2026.
The beneficiaries, all registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), were identified as active farmers during the recent oil price surge. Local recipients emphasized that the cash aid also helps them cope with a broader range of rising farm expenses, including inputs necessary for crop production.
For many farmers, the assistance serves as flexible financial relief, allowing them to allocate resources where they are most needed in their day-to-day operations.
Julito A. Bellen shared how the support helps sustain their work in the fields.
“Dako kini siya tabang sa akoa kay mahal ron ang gasolina ug diesel. Lab-e na nga kami mismo ang magtrabaho sa among basakan. Maayo nga nakahatag ang DA kini nga ayuda kay luoy baya kaayo atong mga farmers sa pagmahal sa presyo sa gasolina. Salamat kaayo sa DA sa pagtabang sa atong mgaparag-uma,” Bellen shared.
(This is a big help for me because gasoline and diesel are very expensive now. Especially since we personally work on our rice fields. It is good that the Department of Agriculture has provided this assistance because our farmers are really struggling due to the rising fuel prices. Thank you very much to the DA for helping us farmers.)
Meanwhile, Nilda R. Solomon highlighted that beyond fuel, the assistance can also be used to address other pressing farm needs.
“Nagpasalamat ko sa mga programa karon tungod kay daghang papliton nga mga abono, medisina para sa among mga basakan. Daghan gyud ning tabang sa among pag-uma,” she expressed.
(I am thankful for the programs now because there are many things we need to buy, such as fertilizers and medicines for our rice fields. This is truly a big help in our farming.)
Similar distributions were also conducted in other parts of Eastern Visayas, including Southern Leyte, Basey, and Tacloban City, extending the reach of the program to more farmers affected by rising fuel and production costs.
As implementation continues, the program underscores the government’s broader effort to strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector—ensuring that farmers remain capable of sustaining food production despite economic challenges.