The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is continuously providing cash and food subsidy to fisherfolk in Central Luzon as part of the government’s response to the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
The assistance is under the Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fishers (CFSMFF) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) funded under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).
BFAR Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz said on Thursday that 800 fisherfolk from nine municipalities and one city in Bataan received cash and food subsidy in a two-day distribution activity held on Jan. 26 and 27.
“Each of the fisherfolk received PHP2,000 worth of food items such as rice, chicken and eggs and PHP3,000 cash that was released through a designated money courier firm,” Cruz said in an official social media post.
The beneficiaries were identified by BFAR Central Luzon with the assistance of the local government units.
Last Jan. 13 and 14, the BFAR also distributed the same assistance to 450 eligible fisherfolk in Nueva Ecija.
Aside from fisherfolk, the DA likewise provides cash and food subsidy to farmers in the region.
Those qualified to avail of the assistance are farmers and fishermen registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
The DA targets to provide CFSMFF assistance to some 979 corn farmers, 2,632 coconut farmers, 968 sugarcane farmers, 2,261 indigenous farmers and 10,200 fisherfolk in Central Luzon. (PNA)
