A total of 68,000 rice farmers in Central Visayas have received PHP5,000 in financial assistance, an agriculture official said on Wednesday.

Jonathan Limocon, focal person of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 (Central Visayas) Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), disclosed that PHP699 million has been allocated for the beneficiaries listed in 2024.

So far, PHP340 million has been disbursed to the 68,000 farmers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. The region has more than 136,000 rice farmers.

He said DA-7 expected to receive additional funds for the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) intended for the RFFA covering this September.

“RA (Republic Act) 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law mandates that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmer Financial Assistance should allocate PHP10 billion per year for the RCEF from the collected tariff and the rest to be used for other purposes, the PHP5,000 RFFA for farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) is among these purposes,” Limocon said.

Under the program, only rice farmers who are actively cultivating 10 square meters up to 2 hectares of rice fields and are registered in the RSBSA will receive PHP5,000 financial assistance.

Limocon assured that all beneficiaries would receive assistance once the local government units have validated their registration in the RSBA. (PNA)