THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon has started the distribution of cash assistance to Pampanga farmers through Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) as an initial 1,300 farmers received P5,000 each in ceremonies held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center recently.
The beneficiaries are farmers who cultivates no more than two hectares and is registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
The RSBSA is the formal government record to identify the country’s legitimate farmers. It is also an electronic compilation of basic information about farmers, farm workers, fishers, and other target agriculture-related beneficiaries of the DA.
Their data are encoded in the farmers and fishery registry system managed by the DA-Central Office. Those registered in the electronic database of government agencies are given priority in the targeting and implementation of their respective programs.
Meanwhile, 25,339 farmers from Pampanga will receive RFFA worth P130,495,850. The second and third caravans will be held on July 26 and 28.
The General Appropriations Act emphasizes that the DA’s national programs will prioritize areas where the majority of the RSBSA-registered small farmers and fisherfolk are located.
The event was attended by Pampanga Vice-Governor Lilia Pineda, DA Regional Executive Director Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr., Field Operations Division Chief Elma Mananes, Regional Rice Program Coordinator Lowell Rebillaco, Pampanga APCO Lorna Tablante, Pampanga Provincial Agriculturist Jimmy Manliclic, Rice Program staff and Agricultural Extension Workers from different municipalities of the said province.