The Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) launched on Wednesday the Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fishers Program (CFSMFF), with its first batch of beneficiaries coming from Damulog, Bukidnon.

DA-10 provincial operations chief for Bukidnon, Dr. Janet D. Lopez, who represented executive director Carlene C. Collado, said the program aims to help farmers recover from the effects brought about by the pandemic.

In Region 10, around 29,426 corn farmers will benefit from the cash and food subsidy at PHP5,000 each — PHP3,000 cash and PHP2,000 worth of food items comprising of 25 kilos of rice (PHP1,000), 4.5 kilos of chicken (PHP600), and two trays of eggs (PHP400).

In Damulog, Bukidnon alone, 1,813 qualified corn farmer-beneficiaries will receive said subsidy with a total of PHP9 million.

With allocation from the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), the agency seeks to provide direct food and financial assistance, highlighting the theme “Biyayang pang-agrikultura, hatid sa gitna ng pandemya.”

Implementing agencies include DA under its Corn Program, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

For DA, criteria for the selection of corn farmer-beneficiaries include having one hectare and below landholding and must be registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS); farmers from cities under 5th to 6th income classification or municipalities under the 4th to 6th income classification; and farmers who are not covered by other Social Amelioration Programs from other government agencies.

Corn farmers from the 17 barangays of Damulog, a fourth-class municipality, will benefit from the program.

“The assistance will definitely help us with our needs, especially in this time of pandemic,” corn farmer Erlina B. Bosquit said. (PNA)