Metro Manila, Philippines – Around 300,000 farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural delivery truck drivers will receive fuel subsidies under a P3-billion assistance program aimed at cushioning the impact of high fuel prices and El Niño on the agriculture sector.
The Department of Agriculture said the assistance will begin this month under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport, or UPLIFT, which was launched in March amid the surge in global oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
Farmers and fisherfolk will receive a one-time P5,000 fuel subsidy for agricultural machinery and equipment, including tractors and motorized bancas.
Drivers hauling agricultural products, meanwhile, will receive P2,000 per week to help cover fuel costs for regular deliveries from farms to markets in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez said the agency is coordinating with the Development Bank of the Philippines to speed up the distribution of the assistance through its branches and automated teller machines.
The government is also considering temporarily removing or reducing toll fees for trucks transporting agricultural products.
“Dagdag sa fuel subsidy, mayroon po kaming inaayos na toll holiday or discount para rin sa agri truckers,” Perez said.
[Translation: “In addition to the fuel subsidy, we are also working on a toll holiday or discount for agricultural truckers.”]
Perez said the Toll Regulatory Board has written tollway operators seeking their comments on the proposal, which the DA hopes could be implemented this month and remain in effect until Dec. 31.
“Mayroon na pong sulat ang Toll Regulatory Board para sa ating mga tollway operator. Hiningan na sila ng komento. Kasi ang hinihingi po natin ay ituloy na iyan hanggang katapusan ng taong ito. Hanggang Dec. 31,” Perez said.
[Translation: “The Toll Regulatory Board has already written to our tollway operators and asked for their comments. What we are requesting is for this to continue until the end of the year, until Dec. 31.”]
“Ito po iyong pinag-uusapan ngayon. Sana mapagbigyan tayo,” he added.
[Translation: “This is what is being discussed now. We hope our request will be granted.”]
The fresh assistance comes as the agriculture sector continues to deal with elevated fuel costs, which directly affect expenses for harvesting, fishing and transporting food to markets.
Benchmark Brent crude reached $100 per barrel on Sept. 9 amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran.
Farmers and fisherfolk will be among the first beneficiaries of the latest UPLIFT assistance because fuel accounts for a significant share of operating expenses for equipment such as palay harvesters and motorized fishing boats.
This is a news release from the Presidential News Desk
