The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Ilocos Region has started distributing unconditional cash aid to around 4,000 pilot beneficiaries across its four provinces.

The assistance is part of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), which is designed to support small-scale producers facing high production costs and volatile fuel prices.

On Thursday, a total of 1,808 farmers from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte gathered at the Ilocos Norte Research and Experiment Center (INREC) in Batac City to receive PHP2,325 each.

“It means a lot to us that we get help from the government. Thank you for the support,” Roderick Asuncion, a registered rice farmer who tills less than a hectare of land in San Nicolas, said.

Asuncion told the Philippine News Agency that he intends to use the financial assistance for his rice planting activities in time for the upcoming wet season.

The DA has allocated a total of PHP10 billion for the PAFFP nationwide to assist those most vulnerable to rising agricultural input costs.

Eligible beneficiaries include rice farmers tilling two hectares or less, as well as corn and sugarcane farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Fisherfolk registered under the National Program for Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration or BoatR are also included in the unconditional cash assistance program.

Initial payouts in the region began this week at pilot sites in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; San Juan, Ilocos Sur; San Fernando City, La Union; and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.

To ensure a smooth verification process, the DA reminded all beneficiaries to bring their RSBSA identification cards or any official proof of identity.

Government records indicate that a total of 480,080 farmers across Region 1 are slated to benefit from the program as the distribution expands beyond the pilot phase. (PNA)