Support measures are being rolled out in Bicol as the Department of Agriculture (DA) moves to help cushion the impact of rising economic pressures on the agriculture sector. The agency has earmarked a fuel subsidy package aimed at assisting farmers and fisherfolk affected by ongoing fuel cost increases.
The Department of Agriculture in Bicol has allocated a total of P604 million intended for 260,050 beneficiaries across the region. The initiative forms part of a broader government assistance effort designed to help agricultural workers cope with the effects of fuel price pressures linked to global developments.
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Cash Aid Rollout for Agriculture Sector
According to DA Bicol Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Florentino Ubalde Jr., the subsidy will be distributed under a presidential assistance program targeting registered farmers and fisherfolk in the region. He explained this during a virtual briefing with the Philippine Statistics Authority regional office.
Each qualified beneficiary will receive P2,325 in cash assistance, with distribution scheduled to begin in the coming days. Covered recipients include individuals and organizations listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, particularly those affected by fuel price increases tied to external geopolitical tensions.
Out of the total beneficiaries, 169,000 are rice farmers, over 50,000 are corn farmers, 1,200 are sugarcane farmers, and 38,400 are fishermen across Bicol. Authorities noted that registration under the official agriculture registry remains the primary requirement to qualify for the subsidy.
“This is the initial intervention of the DA under the presidential assistance program covering 260,050 farmers and fishermen in Bicol. The sole requirement for the beneficiaries of fuel subsidy is that they should be registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA,” Ubalde said.
Officials also noted that the current assistance is in addition to previously allocated subsidies that have yet to be fully released. Further support programs are also in the pipeline, including distribution of hybrid and inbred seeds with fertilizer, as well as additional fuel subsidies for qualified farmers in previous and upcoming cycles.
Technology Push in Farming Efficiency
Alongside financial aid, the agriculture sector is also expanding efforts to modernize farming practices through technology-based training programs. One such initiative is the Drones4Rice program, which focuses on improving agricultural monitoring and productivity.
Carlito Balingbing of the International Rice Research Institute and program lead for Drones4Rice said the use of drones offers a more efficient approach to farming operations as food demand continues to rise.
“We need to look for more efficient ways of production. One of the great opportunities we see is the use of drones as the demand for food increases, especially for rice,” Balingbing said in the Drones4RICE: UAV Training for Crop Health Monitoring and Management program.
He added that drone technology can assist in monitoring crop health, identifying field issues, and improving yield forecasting, as well as support research in crop management and breeding. It is also being used in field applications such as water level monitoring and targeted pest control.
The training was conducted at the DA Bicol Central Bicol Experiment Station compound from March 23 to 27, with participants from multiple regional agriculture offices and research institutions.
For local communities in Bicol and beyond, fuel subsidies and farming support programs play a direct role in sustaining food production and stabilizing supply chains, which ultimately affect food prices and availability for Filipino households nationwide.
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