DA: 158,000 farmers, fisherfolk to get P3K each as fuel subsidy for agri sector

MANILA, Philippines — Some 158,000 farmers and fisherfolk are expected to benefit from the fuel subsidy being allotted by the government for the agriculture sector amid rising fuel prices, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said farmers and fishermen who are eligible for the subsidy will get P3,000 each to be released via an ID card issued by the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Covered by the subsidy are fisherfolk who have registered to have a motorbanca and farmers who are registered and members of a cooperative.

“158,000 ang makikinabang nito. Makakatanggap sila ng fuel subsidy ng P3,000 kada ulo,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

Reyes said they can just present the ID card at Department of Energy-accredited gasoline stations to get the subsidy.

The fuel subsidy was initially set at P500 million but the government has approved an additional P600 million, raising the total budget at P1.1 billion, Reyes said.

Reyes said the DA has already started distributing the funds in March.

/MUF