To cushion the impact of fuel price hikes on farmers and ensure food security, the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continued to roll out the fuel subsidy in Caraga region held in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on June 23.

OIC-Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Rebecca R. Atega and OIC-Field Operations Division Chief Melody Guimary led the distribution of the fuel discount cards to qualified corn farmers and fishers in the municipalities of Talacogon, San Luis, and La Paz.

The fuel discount program is given to corn farmers who are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors Agriculture (RSBSA) using pre and post-harvest machinery in corn production and for fishermen who own motorized boats registered with the “FishR” of the DA-BFAR.

Initially, a total of 206 eligible beneficiaries from the province of Agusan del Sur received their discount cards worth P3,000 in partnership with the Universal Storefront Services Corporation. Forty-six corn farmers and 10 fishers in Talacogon, 96 corn farmers in San Luis, and 45 corn farmers and 9 fishers were from La Paz. 

Delia L. Santing, a corn farmer-beneficiary from Brgy. La Flora, Talacogon thanked the DA for helping them.

“The fuel discount will lessen our expenses in corn production. We can still use our hand tractors to hasten our land preparation,” she said.

The fuel subsidy will assist more than 3,800 beneficiaries in the region.

Moreover, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega, who led the distribution said that the Department will continue to support and provide necessary interventions to the farmers in the region amid the looming global food crisis. 

“We are closely working with the Local Government Units through their Agriculture Offices to strategize the programs and services of the government. It is also important that farmers and fishers cooperatives and associations should come together to optimize the interventions and assistance thru farm clustering and consolidation,” said RTD Atega.

The farm and fishery clustering approach provides better access to resources, technologies, and markets for farmers and fisherfolk. There are 59 active corn clusters in the region according to the DA-Caraga Corn Program. (Rhea C. Abao, Information Officer II DA-Caraga RAFIS)