Gov’t expands fuel subsidies to farmers, fishers

Tuna fishing boats dock at the General Santos City fish port. Boat operators here await subsidies like those extended to jeepney owners as soaring fuel prices seriously threaten their livelihood. —BONG S. SARMIENTO/FILE PHOTO

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded the distribution of fuel subsidies to benefit more agricultural producers amid rising pump prices.

“The program will therefore cover all farm machinery with attached engine, that is being used for crop production as well as motorized banca. All farm machinery enrolled under the program should have proof of ownership,” the DA said in a memo signed by Agriculture Undersecretary and chief of staff Leocadio Sebastian.

All concerned DA offices, including the Sugar Regulatory Administration, National Tobacco Administration, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, and Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization that distribute farm machinery were tasked to submit a master list of eligible recipients and corresponding machinery to regional field offices.

They were also directed to coordinate with local governments to conduct information dissemination, fast-track validation and encoding of eligible beneficiaries in the registry systems, generate the final list of beneficiaries, and distribute cash cards to eligible participants.

30% discount

Beneficiaries under the subsidy program are entitled to a 30-percent fuel discount, or a maximum of P3,000 per farmer or fisher, upon the purchase of gasoline or diesel from designated or contracted gas stations.

The discount cards will be issued by the DA in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines.

In March, the DA issued guidelines on providing fuel discounts to all registered corn farmers and fishermen to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices that had been aggravated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.The initial budget of P500 million for the initiative was later increased to P1.1 billion to benefit corn farmers using machines for production and preparation, post-harvest activities, and fisherfolk using motorized boats for fishing.

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