Central Antique— A total of 7,163 farmers in the NCI-SRD convergence area received Php5,000 financial assistance through the Department of Agriculture’s Financial Subsidy for Rice Farmers (FSRF) program.

Small rice farmers, who plant one hectare or less and are not covered by the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program, were automatically part of the DA’s initiatives to lessen the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the farmers’ economic sustainability.

The NCI-SRD personnel, together with the Landbank of the Philippines, Local Government Units (LGUs), Agricultural Program Coordinating Officers (APCOs), Municipal Agriculturists (MAs), Agricultural Technicians (ATs), assisted in the successful distribution of the FSRF pay-out in the said areas.

Recipients of the FSRF program in Central Antique included the municipalities of Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-an, Patnongon, and Valderrama. These municipalities in the convergence area are known as one of the largest contributors to the rice production of the whole province with its wide rice lands and improved irrigation system. Farmer-beneficiaries said that the pandemic relief was a big help to sustain day-to- day expenses and will be used to buy essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The ₱3-billion FSRF is earmarked under the 2020 General Appropriations Act.