Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 15) — Fisherfolk and farmers of crops other than rice should be receiving cash aid under the social amelioration program of the government, the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.
“Mayroon kaming ugnayan ng DSWD na yung hindi masama dun sa financial subsidy for rice farmers — kasi nagbibigay tayo ngayon for 34 provinces, ₱5,000 for those (rice farmers) tilling one hectare and below — yung hindi makasama po dito ay kasama po doon sa SAP basta poorest of the poor,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during the government’s Laging Handa briefing.
[Translation: We have spoken with the DSWD that those not included in the financial subsidy for rice farmers — because we are giving ₱,5000 to rice farmers tilling land measuring one hectare and below — those not falling into that category should be included in the SAP as long as they are included in the poorest of the poor.]
Dar said this includes, among others, fisherfolk and those working in the coconut industry.
it would be up to the workers to talk to their barangay chairmen so they can be included in the list to be submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, he added.
Dar, however, clarified that the DA would only give one month financial aid to qualified rice farmers, and they should be included in the SAP after that.
“Dalawang buwan ng pamimigay ng DSWD. Ang usapan namin, yung rice farmers na makakuha dito sa ₱5,000, ay kung dito sa second month, ay kasama na po sila sa SAP kasi one-time aid lang ang binibigay ng DA,” he said.
[Translation: The DSWD will be giving cash aid for two months. Out agreement is the rice farmers receiving ₱5,000 now, should be included in the SAP in the second month because the assistance from the DA is only for one month.]
