The Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) amounting to PHP50 million is set to be released to about 5,000 farmers, fishers and their families this month.

Antique Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) acting head Dr. Gina Jordan confirmed this Monday, adding that the release of funds is just timely considering the effect of the past two weather disturbances that inflicted on the farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

Jordan said each family of the identified farmers and fishers would receive PHP10,000.

She said the assistance would help the farmers buy the needed fertilizers and other materials for their farms, especially now that they are planting for the second cropping that started Sept. 15.

Based on the OPA report, the province of Antique had incurred PHP15.92 million in agricultural losses during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

The report also said 593 farmers from the towns of Pandan, Tobias Fornier, Culasi, Tibiao, San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Valderrama, Bugasong, Sebaste, San Remigio, Anini-y, Sibalom, and Libertad were affected by Kristine.

The total damage to the fisheries was PHP1.64 million while 99 fishers were affected.

“We are still waiting for the final report from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAOs) about the damage to rice crops and fisheries due to Typhoon Leon,” Jordan said.

In an earlier interview, Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta said the provincial board had authorized Governor Rhodora Cadiao to sign the Deed of Donation that formally releases the PAFFF.

“The PAFFF was supposed to be for farmers and fisherfolk affected by the drought or the El Niño phenomenon then, but the provincial board was only able to give the authority to the governor lately because we did not have a quorum for almost a month last August,” he said. (PNA)