Farmers, fisherfolk set to receive P150 million in fuel subsidies

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday that it is disbursing P150 million worth of fuel subsidies, split evenly between farmers and fisherfolk.

Arnel V. De Mesa, DA spokesman and assistant secretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance, told reporters at a briefing that 89% of the fuel subsidies due to be handed out to farmers have been released, with the corresponding disbursement rate for fisherfolk at 66%.

He added that the department is still waiting for further allocations.

Mr. De Mesa said that the DA requested an additional P1 billion from the Department of Budget and Management  for fuel subsidies, on top of its P6-billion request for fertilizer subsidies.

“When Congress held hearings and the DA was asked to prepare, we requested P6-billion additional support,” Mr. De Mesa told reporters.

Fuel subsidies for farmers received a P25 million boost in June through a Special Allotment Release Order, with farmers set to receive P5,000 in cash.

The department’s requests for additional subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk remain under review by Congress. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza