CITY OF MALOLOS — A total of 20,118 farmers in Bulacan, registered with the Farmers and Fisherfolks Registry System (FFRS), who are tilling rice lands that are two hectares or below will receive cash assistance worth Php5,000 along with the Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program.

 

 

In accordance with Republic Act. No. 11598, or the Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act, the DA was authorized to provide direct cash assistance to farmers who are tilling two hectares and below of rice lands until 2024.

 

 

The IMC to be distributed to the farmers will serve as their identification (ID) and cash card which will give them access to government interventions.

 

 

In a kick-off ceremony yesterday at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, 200 of 748 farmers from this city already got their IMCs and cash assistance while farmers from Balagtas, Baliwag, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Marilao, Obando, Plaridel, Santa Maria, City of Meycauayan and City of San Jose del Monte received their IMCs and cash assistance through store payout in USSC branches in their area.

 

 

A payout caravan will also be held in other cities and municipalities with a higher number of beneficiaries and those areas with no USSC branch.

 

 

Meanwhile, Governor Daniel R. Fernando lauded the farmers and said that this program will benefit those affected by the rice importation in the country.

 

 

“Napakalaking tulong nito sa ating mga magsasaka na naaapektuhan ng rice importation maging ng krisis pangkalusugan at pangkabuhayan na dulot ng pandemya. Kayo po ay maituturing na isa sa mga nabubuhay na bayani kasama ng ating mga frontliners. Sa panahon ng mga lockdowns, nakita lalo natin ang kahalagahan ng bigas, gulay, baboy at manok,” Fernando said.

 

 

The governor also announced the construction of the Bulacan Farmers’ Training Center within the premises of the Provincial Government of Bulacan.

 

 

“Batid natin na may mga centers of training and learning sa iba’t-ibang lugar dito sa lalawigan at hindi po papayag ang Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na hindi maging bahagi ng tamang pagtuturo ng kaalaman ang ating mga minamahal na buhay na bayani. Ginagawa na po ang Bulacan Farmers’ Training Center, ang kauna-unahang school o training center ng Provincial Government of Bulacan at ito ay itinatayo na inside the capitol compound,” he said.

( PROVINCIAL GOV’T OF BULACAN)