The Department of Agriculture (DA) has granted PHP10.24 million under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance to 2,049 farmers in Antique as of Thursday since the start of the release on May 10.

DA Agriculture Program Coordinating Office for Antique Sonie Guanco said each farmer got PHP5,000, deposited into their Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC), similar to an automated teller machine (ATM) card.

Guanco said the recipients are among the 47,390 farmers targeted to get the cash assistance in 2023.

Of the total number, only 24,399 received their aid last year, while the release of the IMC for 6,044 farmers is ongoing.

“We target to finish releasing the IMCs to the 6,044 farmers by May 30 so they can withdraw their cash assistance,” Guanco said.

He said they are hopeful the IMCs of the remaining 16,947 farmers will be out soon for them to get their aid.

He urged recipients to use the aid to buy their farm inputs aside from their food and other needs. (PNA)