Over 1.5K farmers in Surigao Sur’s town receive PBBM’s cash aid to ease rising farm production costs
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
MADRID, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — A total of 1,506 farmers in the municipality of Madrid in Surigao del Sur received financial assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program, providing much-needed support to beneficiaries amid rising farm production costs.
The assistance is part of the national government’s efforts to cushion farmers from increasing production costs due to the continued rise in diesel and gasoline prices, which directly affect land preparation, transportation, and other agricultural activities.
The program provides immediate financial relief to eligible farmers and fisherfolk, enabling them to sustain farm operations, improve productivity, and strengthen their livelihoods amid economic challenges.
For 60-year-old farmer Florito Ascarez, the assistance came at a crucial time as his family continues to cope with rising living and farming costs.
“Ang maong hinabang nakatabang sa among pamilya sa pagsagubang sa pagsaka sa presyo sa mga batakang panginahanglanon. Nagpaabot usab ako og dakong pasalamat sa kasamtangang nasyonal ug lokal nga panggamhanan nga nakahatod niining maong hinabang kanamo (The assistance has helped our family cope with the rising cost of basic commodities. I am also grateful to the national and local governments for bringing this assistance to our community),” Ascarez said in a phone patch interview with the PIA-Surigao del Sur coordinator.
Local officials thanked the national government for bringing the program to Madrid, saying it reflected the administration’s continued commitment to supporting the agriculture sector and ensuring that farmers receive timely assistance.
They also emphasized the importance of sustaining government interventions that enhance farmers’ productivity, expand income opportunities, and contribute to local food security.
The PAFF is among President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s key initiatives to strengthen the resilience of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk by helping them manage rising production costs and sustain agricultural productivity, for the country’s food security and rural development goals. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur/Photo courtesy of LGU Madrid)
