ILOILO City — Farmers and fisherfolk in Western Visayas are set to receive fuel subsidies from the national government as the Department of Agriculture (DA) moves to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The subsidy program aims to help agricultural producers cope with higher production costs, particularly the rising cost of fuel used in farm machinery and fishing boats.
Maria Teresa Solis, regional technical director for operations of DA Region 6, confirmed that farmers and fisherfolk in the region will benefit from the fuel subsidy, although the exact amount and the number of beneficiaries have yet to be finalized.
The subsidy is expected to significantly ease production expenses for farmers and fisherfolk, particularly during land preparation and other farm operations.
Solis also said the agency will conduct monitoring later on to ensure that recipients use the subsidy for agricultural activities.
Under the program, eligible farmers are entitled to P5,000 each, while qualified fisherfolk may receive P3,000 each.
The national government has earmarked P100 million for immediate distribution this month, part of the P150 million unused fuel subsidy funds under the DA’s 2025 budget. The amount includes P50 million for about 9,700 farmers and P50 million for around 15,000 fisherfolk registered under the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBA).
The subsidy program is designed to cushion farmers and fisherfolk from the effects of an “oil shock” that raises the cost of operating farm machinery and fishing vessels.
Meanwhile, the DA is also exploring the possibility of tapping the P10-billion Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) fund if the Middle East crisis drags on and continues to drive up fuel prices.
“We are inquiring about the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fishers… That’s about P10 billion for calamity purposes scheduled for release in the second or third quarter of this year but since this can be considered as [a calamity], we are already coordinating with the operations group on how this can be tapped if the problem in the Middle East would be prolonged,” said DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.
The PAFF program provides direct cash aid of about P10,000 to agricultural workers to help them recover from disasters such as typhoons and El Niño.
De Mesa said the DA is also requesting the Department of Budget and Management to release the remaining P50 million of the fuel subsidy budget to accelerate the program’s rollout.
Officials said agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering are now fast-tracking the distribution of the initial subsidy funds to ensure timely assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolk.
For agriculture stakeholders in Western Visayas, the subsidy is expected to provide immediate relief as fuel price volatility continues to threaten the cost of food production in the region./PN
