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The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 intensified the payout caravan of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) in Eastern Samar, wherein more than 14,000 farmers and fisherfolk received the financial relief during the 3-day rollout caravan to the said province covering 10 municipalities of the northern side of Eastern Samar.

The initiative led by the DA RFO8, aims to directly assist farmer-beneficiaries, wherein they were given cash aid intended to help cover expenses such as fertilizers, seeds, farm labor and fuel for the upcoming planting season.

Aldrin Nofies, rice farmer from Oras, shared that the assistance he received will cover the expenses for the gasoline for the tractor.

β€œπ·π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ 𝑖𝑛 π‘›π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔 π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘€π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’, π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ž 𝑝𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑒 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘ π‘˜π‘œ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑙 π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž. π‘†π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘Žπ‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘™ π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑙 π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘ π‘’β„Žπ‘œπ‘™ β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘Žβ„Žπ‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘’π‘šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘Žπ‘›, π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑒 π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘¦π‘’π‘‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘€π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ .”

[The assistance we received is a big help. For example, I can use this to buy diesel for the tractor for my farming. Now that diesel and labor costs in the rice field are already expensive, these are the kinds of things for which we can use the aid that we farmers receive.]

It is also the same for Pablo Mengullo, a rice farmer from San Policarpo. β€œπ·π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔, π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘’π‘›π‘Žπ‘›π‘”-π‘’π‘›π‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘›π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘™π‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘¦ π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘œ π‘Žπ‘› π‘”π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘‘ π‘”π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘›π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘”π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘  π‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘Žβ„Žπ‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž. πΏπ‘Žπ‘π‘– π‘›π‘Ž π‘¦π‘Žπ‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘™ π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘œπ‘›, 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘˜π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘šπ‘–π‘‘ π‘™π‘Ž π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘’π‘’π‘π‘œπ‘ . π‘†π‘œ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘€π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘ π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘–π‘› 𝑖𝑛𝑖 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œ π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž, π‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘› π‘”π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘™π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖, π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘– 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘˜π‘Žβ„Žπ‘–π‘šπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”.”

[It is a big help because, first of all, we no longer have to worry about where to get even a small amount for our farming expenses. Especially now that the things we buy are already expensive, money gets used up quickly. So, what we received can help sustain our farming. Even if it is only a small amount, it is already a big help for people like us who are in difficult circumstances.]

Another beneficiary, Lheona Para, a farmer from Dolores, said that she and her husband are grateful to be one of the beneficiary of the said assistance. She also said that she had started planting vegetables to supplement her income amid the increasing production cost and while waiting for the cropping season to start.

β€œπ»π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œ π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘›β„Žπ‘– β„Žπ‘Ž π·π‘œπ‘™π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ , π‘’π‘ π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘šπ‘– β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘ π‘Žπ‘€π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žβ„Žπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘” β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘›. π·π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘– π‘›π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž. π»π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘”π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘›π‘Ž π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘”π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘›π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘ π‘–π‘ π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘›π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘  π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘˜π‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘” π‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘˜π‘–π‘‘π‘Ž. π‘†π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘™π‘–π‘‘ π‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› 𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑖 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘Ž 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘”π‘Ž 𝑝𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑒 π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘ π‘’β„Žπ‘œπ‘™ β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘” β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› β„Žπ‘Ž π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž,” she said.

[Among the many farmers here in Dolores, my spouse and I are among those who were helped by receiving this assistance. This is a big help to us, especially in our farming. With our small piece of land planted with rice, I can say that our expenses are really high and our earnings are still not enough. That is why, even if this assistance is small, it is already a big help to us because we can use it to pay for workers who help us in the field.]

β€œπΌπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ž π‘”π‘–π‘›π‘π‘’π‘π‘’β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘™π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘Žπ‘Žπ‘ π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘š β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦, π‘›π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘š π‘”π‘–β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ β„Žπ‘–π‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘› π‘™π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘™π‘–π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘” π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ž. πΎπ‘Žπ‘¦ π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘£π‘’π‘ π‘‘ π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘›π‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦, π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ž π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘–β„Žπ‘œπ‘› 𝑖𝑛 π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘–π‘”π‘ π‘’π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ž,” she added.

[As for me, I do not rely only on planting rice. I also plant vegetables, even just in our backyard, so that we have something to cook. Because once we harvest the rice, the next thing we have to think about is what we will eat with it.]

The DA guidelines for PAFFP specify that beneficiaries must be registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) or Boat Registration (BoatR) for fisherfolk. Eligible rice farmers must be tilling not more than two hectares and actively engaged in the cultivation of rice at the time of market disruption and economic instability occurred.

The PAFFP was implemented to alleviate the impact of rising production cost including fuel, agricultural inputs and other operational expenses that affecting the agricultural and fishery production.