By CESAR JOLITO III

More than 300,000 farmers and fisherfolk across the Negros Island Region (NIR) are set to receive P5,000 in financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the government moves to cushion the impact of rising fuel and commodity prices on the agricultural sector.

According to DA-NIR Regional Director Engineer Albert Barrogo, all identified beneficiaries are registered under the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture, which has documented over 300,000 agricultural workers across the region.

Barrogo said the cash assistance will be directly credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, eliminating the need for physical payout events and speeding up distribution.

“This system ensures faster and more secure delivery of aid, especially as input costs and fuel prices continue to strain food producers,” Barrogo said.

The assistance comes as food prices in the region continue to climb, with premium rice now reaching P66.25 per kilo in local markets, according to DA monitoring.

Despite the price pressures, the DA maintained that food supply in the region remains stable.

The National Food Authority (NFA) currently holds sufficient rice buffer stock, estimated to last for at least 30 days of regional demand.

To further ease the burden on consumers, the NFA is also set to roll out large-scale rice sales at a subsidized price of P20 per kilo immediately after the Holy Week break.

The initiative is part of broader government efforts led by DA to stabilize food prices while ensuring direct support reaches vulnerable food producers amid ongoing economic pressures in the region./CJ, WDJ