1,870 Pampanga rice farmers get cash aid from DA

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — At least 1,870 rice farmers from different parts of this province received on Wednesday (Nov. 9) cash aid from the Department of Agriculture-Region 3 (DA-3) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program.

The DA-3 said each farmer received P5,000 in cash during the aid distribution ceremony at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in the City of San Fernando.

Under the financial assistance program, rice farmers on the list of DA-3’s registry systems for basic sectors in agriculture and who till not more than two hectares of farmland are eligible to receive the unconditional P5,000 cash aid.

The agency said the program aims to benefit rice farmers adversely affected by the Rice Tariffication Law, which lifted the restrictions on the quantities of rice to be imported by the national government, resulting in a drop in the prices of locally planted rice.

Both houses of Congress passed the measure in November 2018, and former President Duterte signed it into law on Feb. 14, 2019.

During the cash assistance distribution, Pampanga Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda deployed a medical team to provide free check-ups to farmers.

The provincial government also distributed food packs to the farmers. INQ

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