P5.2M FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELEASED TO BINALBAGAN RICE FARMERS. Governor Bong Lacson and Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director, Remelyn Recoter led the distribution of financial assistance worth a total of P5.2 Million to 1,041 farmers of the Municipality of Binalbagan, today.
The aid is from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF – RFFA) of DA, which provides financial assistance to rice farmers as compensation to the projected reduction of farm income arising from the tariffication on rice.
Each farmer-beneficiary received P5,000 each in a distribution held at Payao Covered Court in Brgy. Payao, Binalbagan, attended by 5th District Board Members Rita Gatuslao and Tinto Bascon, Binalbagan Vice Mayor Samuel Gavaran, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist OIC, Dr. Dina Genzola, and other local officials.
According to Dir. Recoter, DA Region VI targets to distribute (RFFA) cash assistance to a total 45,213 rice farmers in Negros Occidental with a total amount of P226 Million.
She also said that the agricultural and fisheries damages caused by Typhoon Odette in the whole Western Visayas amounted to P5 Billion, and 70 percent of it is from Negros Occidental, hence, the preparation for the rehabilitation is being done by DA to help the farmers.
Gov. Lacson thanked the Negrense farmers for being key players in ensuring food security in the province; he acknowledged their effort on agricultural productivity, especially with the present pandemic.
