1,334 Tagbina farmers receive government aid under Presidential Assistance Program
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — A total of 1,334 farmers in the municipality of Tagbina received financial assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) during a distribution activity at the municipal gymnasium.
Held from July 13 to 14, the activity was implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in partnership with the local government of Tagbina led by Mayor Glaiza Jane Polizon-Lanete, and the Municipal Agriculture Office. The assistance forms part of the national government’s continuing efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector, enhance food security, and build the resilience of farming communities.
Under the program, each beneficiary received ₱2,325 to help address immediate farming needs and sustain agricultural production amid rising production costs and other challenges confronting the sector.
The PAFF is one of the government’s interventions aimed at providing immediate relief to farmers and fisherfolk affected by economic and agricultural disruptions. By extending direct assistance, the program seeks to boost farm productivity, sustain rural livelihoods, and contribute to the country’s food security agenda.
For farmer Danilo Dahang of Barangay Magsaysay, the assistance, though modest, provides much-needed support for his family’s daily needs and farming activities.
“Nakatabang na sa akong pamilya, bisan sa ginagmay lang nga kantidad,” Dahang shared in a phone patch interview.
(It has helped my family, even if the amount is modest.)
Dahang cultivates one hectare of corn on his own land and another hectare of cassava on land entrusted to him through a prenda (pawn) arrangement. Like many small-scale farmers, he said increasing production costs continue to pose a major challenge.
“Lisod jud ang farming karon tungod sa kamahal sa mga inputs sama sa abono. Sa maisan lang, kinahanglan og walo ka sako nga fertilizer, ug ang usa ka sako hapit na moabot og ₱2,000,” he said.
(Farming is really difficult nowadays because of the high cost of farm inputs such as fertilizer. For my corn farm alone, I need eight sacks of fertilizer, and each sack now costs almost ₱2,000.)
While expressing gratitude for the government’s assistance, Dahang also appealed for agricultural support, particularly fertilizer distribution, to be synchronized with the farmers’ planting calendar to maximize its impact.
“Maayo unta nga ang mga programa sa gobyerno, labi na ang fertilizer assistance, matunong sa panahon sa pagpangtanom aron mas magamit dayon sa mga mag-uuma,” he added.
(I hope government assistance programs, especially fertilizer distribution, are provided in time for the planting season so farmers can use them when they need them most.)
In Barangay Magsaysay, about 17 farmers, including Dahang, benefited from the PAFF assistance.
Mayor Polizon-Lanete thanked the Department of Agriculture for its continued support to Tagbina’s agricultural sector, reaffirming the local government’s commitment to improving the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk through collaborative initiatives with national government agencies.
The distribution of assistance underscored President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to empowering farmers through timely interventions that help increase agricultural productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods, and advance the country’s goal of achieving food security and a more resilient agricultural sector. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)