LAGAWE, Ifugao (PIA) -- Around 8,745 rice-farmer beneficiaries from the different municipalities received P5, 000 cash assistance each from the Department of Agriculture- Cordillera under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF- RFFA) Program this year.

 Farmer-beneficiaries are from the municipalities of Aguinaldo, Banaue, Hingyon, Hungduan, Kiangan, and Mayoyao who registered to the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) on or before March 31, 2022

Farmers who registered after the said date will be included in the next batch of beneficiaries, Regional Rice Program Coordinator Edwin Joseph Franco explained.

The RFFA is from the excess tariff of the Rice Tariffication Law which provides cash assistance to registered farmers in the RSBSA for tilling and/or owning rice areas of two hectares and below.

Distribution of said assistance is in coordination with Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units, Philippine National Police, and Universal Storefront Services Corporation (USSC).

Mayors of the different municipalities thanked the DA team led by Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey for their continuous effort and dedication in helping the rice farmers.

Meanwhile, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer of Ifugao Charlemagne Monayao reminded the farmers on the importance of providing necessary data for the agency's basis in providing appropriate assistance to farmers.( JDP/FBR-PIA Ifugao Photos: DA- CAR Rice Program)