At least 5,563 rice and corn farmers from Davao de Oro’s town of Nabunturan received cash assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) and fuel discount vouchers from the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) on Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement Thursday, DA-11 Director for Operations Marie Ann Constantino said rice farmers received PHP5,000 each while corn farmers got PHP3,00 worth of fuel discount cards (FDC) each under the agency’s Fuel Discount Program (FDP).

Meanwhile, A-11 FDP focal person Leorence Nasol noted that the FDC could only be withdrawn at identified fuel stations in their respective municipalities.

“The fuel discount cards will expire in 2029,” she said.

During the aid distribution, Governor Dorothy Gonzaga thanked the farmers for their contributions to the province.

“Thank you to the Bagong Pilipinas Campaign of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., for ensuring the progress of the farmers’ lives amidst the challenges posed by recent calamities,” Gonzaga said.

The RFFA fund is provided to rice farmers with a rice area not exceeding two hectares. It supports farmers affected by the significant decline in palay farm gate prices coinciding with the adoption of the Rice Tariffication Law.

On the other hand, fuel discount cards intend to help farmers mitigate the adverse impacts of rising oil costs, especially members of farmers’ cooperatives and associations that use agriculture machinery and equipment individually or through organizations. (PNA)