BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continued to roll out the fuel subsidy for corn farmers and fisherfolk in Caraga region on June 23.

Officer-in-Charge (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 recipients in the municipalities of Talacogon, San Luis, and La Paz, all in Agusan del Sur.

The fuel discount program is primarily for farmers using pre and post-harvest machinery in corn production and for fishermen who own motorized boats registered with the “FishR” of the DA-BFAR. 

A total of 206 eligible beneficiaries received their discount cards worth PhP3,000 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 nine fishers were from La Paz.  

Delia L. Santing, a corn farmer-beneficiary from Barangay 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. 

DA-BFAR Caraga Representative Starlou Tandugon, Talacogon Municipal Agriculturist Reuel A. Barraca also graced the event. (DA-RFO XIII, RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)