DA’s Presidential assistance reaches 287 Carrascal farmers
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — For Marivic Itaas, a rice farmer cultivating a one-hectare farm in Carrascal, government assistance means more than financial aid; it is a timely boost that has helped her sustain her livelihood and continue providing for her family.
As one of the 287 farmers who benefited from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), Itaas said the support came at a time when many farmers are facing rising production costs.
During the distribution at the Carrascal sports and cultural center, each qualified beneficiary received P2,325 in financial assistance from the Office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through the PAFFP.
The program covers farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) who cultivate two hectares or less, as well as qualified beneficiaries enrolled in the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration (BoatR), ensuring that support reaches eligible farmers and fisherfolk across key agricultural sectors.
“Nagpasalamat ako sa lokal ug nasyonal nga pangagamhanan sa maong programa para sa mga mag-uuma,” Itaas said in a phone patch interview. (I am grateful to both the local and national governments for this program that supports farmers.)
The assistance was distributed by the DA Caraga in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Carrascal, to help farmers recover from recent production and economic challenges and enable them to continue agricultural activities.
The local government of Carrascal, through the Municipal Agriculturist Japhet C. Sugian, together with the MAO technical staff, supervised the distribution to ensure that all qualified beneficiaries received the assistance efficiently.
The program aims to strengthen farmers’ livelihoods, improve agricultural productivity, and reinforce the country’s food security through sustained government support.
The Municipal Agriculture Office expressed its gratitude to the Department of Agriculture Caraga for the program’s implementation, recognizing the dedication of Carrascal’s farmers in sustaining local food production despite various challenges. (NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur/ Photo courtesy of FITS Carrascal)
