CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon recently distributed P5,000 assistance to farmers of San Narciso in Zambales as part of the program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) just before the weekend.

The RCEF-RFFA aims to provide temporary relief to qualified farmers during the entire implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and cash assistance to RSBSA-registered rice farmers who cultivate two hectares or less.

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.

An estimated 1,418 rice farmers in San Narciso received aid from the program. In total, it is estimated that 16,074 will be targeted to receive from the Department's RFFA program for the year 2022-2023.