Over 19,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte received cash assistance worth 2,325 pesos each under the Presidential Assistance for Farmer and Fisherfolk Program, which aims to alleviate the financial strain experienced by them amidst the escalation of fuel prices due to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Facilitated by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8, the 44 million in assistance was released in different payout sites in the region from July 14 to August 6, 2026, providing timely financial support to the tillers of the soil and fishers of the sea in Eastern Visayas. Beneficiaries are identified through the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The assistance empowers farmers and fisherfolk to sustain their agricultural endeavors and help their families make ends meet. For small-scale producers, such assistance can help ease financial pressures and provide a much-needed boost as they continue working to keep their farms and fishing operations productive.

The PAFFP is a national government intervention launched by the current administration to provide timely financial relief to farmers and fisherfolk adversely affected by fuel prices’ dramatic escalation. This initiative mainly aims to sustain farmers’ and fisherfolk’s agricultural productivity.