A total of 129,208 farmers across the six provinces of the Bicol Region have received assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) since distribution began on April 22.

DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel Tornilla, in an interview on Monday, said the beneficiaries, representing 50 percent of the region’s target of 260,050 recipients, each received PHP2,325 in cash assistance.

“A total of PHP300.4 million has so far been distributed in the six provinces of Bicol,” he said.

The biggest distribution was recorded in the five districts of Camarines Sur, where 53,233 farmers received a total of PHP123.7 million in financial assistance. Beneficiaries included 47,520 rice farmers, 5,500 corn farmers, and 213 sugarcane farmers.

“This is 92 percent of the target in Camarines Sur, which is 65,140 farmers,” Tornilla said.

In Albay’s three districts, PHP44.7 million was distributed to 17,896 rice farmers, 1,072 corn farmers, and 275 sugarcane farmers, covering 50 percent of the province’s target of 38,510 beneficiaries.

In Masbate, DA Bicol distributed PHP55.5 million to 16,401 rice farmers and 7,474 corn farmers across the province’s three districts, equivalent to 70 percent of the target of 33,975 farmers.

In Sorsogon’s two districts, 16,333 rice farmers and 27 corn farmers received a combined PHP38 million, or 69 percent of the target of 23,961 beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, in Camarines Norte, DA Bicol distributed PHP23.2 million in cash assistance to 9,936 rice farmers and 75 corn farmers, representing 95 percent of the target of 10,493 farmers.

In Catanduanes, 6,486 rice farmers received a total of PHP15 million, equivalent to 94 percent of the province’s target of 6,871 beneficiaries.

Tornilla said the distribution of PAFF assistance to rice and corn farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) remains ongoing.

PAFF is a government assistance program implemented by the DA and funded under Republic Act 12314, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), to provide immediate aid to farmers affected by rising crude oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. (PNA)