Dinagat Islands’ young farmer thankful to PBBM’s UPLIFT assistance
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Noli Redula, a young farmer from San Jose, Dinagat Islands, expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos for the financial assistance to the farmers amid the crisis.
Redula is one of the 156 rice and corn farmers who each received P2,235 cash assistance on August 11 from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP).
“Kaning cash assistance magamit namo para sa labor kay dili man makaya nga mag-inusara lang sa pag-uma. Ang libreng binhi ug abono nadawat na namo gikan sa DA. So, kini pandugang na lang sa uban pa namong mga gikinahanglan,” said Redula.
(This cash aid could be used for hiring people to work on the farm because we cannot do it alone. We received free rice seeds and fertilizers from DA. So, this money will help us with other operating expenses.)
In partnership with the respective local government units, DA Caraga also facilitated the PAFFP payout in other municipalities of the province, helping more farmers increase their production despite the rising cost of farm inputs.
On Aug. 10, Cagdianao town had 362 farmer-beneficiaries, and Libjo had 1,027. The following day, 624 rice and corn farmers from Basilisa received government support under the program, and on Aug. 13, the municipal government of Loreto held its cash assistance distribution.
The Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program is part of the administration’s initiative on UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport), a unified and whole-of-government framework to address the impact of the Middle East conflict on the Philippines, its economy, and the lives of Filipinos.
In response to the call of President Marcos, P10 billion is allocated to the program to benefit 4.17 million farmers and fisherfolk across the country, with initial payout on April 15. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DA Caraga)