THE Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program of the Department of Agriculture launched in Pangasinan on December 23 benefited 500 farmers from Mangatarem town affected by the low price of palay on account of the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law. 

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, along with Governor Amado Espino III, distributed the cash cards to the farmers entitling each one P5,000 in financial assistance from the government in a ceremony held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center in Lingayen.

Pointing out that RFFA is a non-tariff measure implemented by the government, Dar stressed that the program benefit only selected farmers in 33 provinces tilling from one-half hectare to two hectares of land.

The P5,000 cash cards can be withdrawn immediately from the Land Bank of the Philippines through its mobile unit or the LBP kiosk at the provincial capitol.

In Pangasinan, 87,175 farmers have been identified to receive the cash cards.

Dar told newsmen, P3 billion was allotted in the 2019 budget for the first salvo of RFFA and another P3 billion for the next salvo in 2020.

At the same time, Dar said the National Food Authority (NFA) was initially given P7 billion to buy palay from farmers at a higher price but it ended buying P11 billion worth of palay.

Dar said DA will also provide incentives to provinces that bought palay from farmers and helped manage the price of the commodity in their respective areas.

Pangasinan was chosen as site for the nationwide launching of RFFA because it is the biggest producer of rice in Region 1 and one of the most active provinces in helping DA implement its programs and projects. (Leonardo Micua) 

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