DA: Fuel subsidies for farmers, fisherfolk to start soon amid El Niño threat

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday that fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk amid the threat of a potentially very strong El Niño will begin soon, with registered fisherfolk set to receive assistance this week.

For mechanized farmers, the department said it is eyeing to start releasing the fuel subsidy by the last week of October or in November.

“For fisherfolk, distribution will start this week. As for farmers, they (DA personnel) are cleaning up the list," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

"The latest would be the first week of November, but hopefully before the end of October, the assistance for our farmers will be released as well," he added.

The fuel assistance is part of the P6.2 billion released by the Department of Budget and Management through the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program.

The DA said it will prioritize the release of fuel subsidies to farmers and fisherfolk in areas affected by the Habagat and those that experienced drought in the past, mostly in Luzon.

“For priority areas, we are prioritizing Habagat-affected areas, basically Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan. And of course, those hit by drought in Isabela and those that experienced extreme heat in the past,” said Tiu Laurel.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the upcoming El Niño could last until March or even June. Around 40 provinces are expected to experience below-normal rainfall during the dry spell and drought, while the number of affected provinces could double by January.

Aside from drier weather, temperatures are also expected to rise, with some areas experiencing temperatures as high as 38.7 degrees Celsius.

Tiu Laurel said the DA requested a total of P45 billion to fund its mitigation measures for El Niño. This includes the initial P6.2 billion allocation for fuel subsidies under the UPLIFT program.

“The total amount we requested is P45 billion. Actually, later this afternoon, we have a meeting in Malacañang with the President specifically about El Niño. We meet almost weekly. The P6.2 billion is just the initial amount,” said Tiu Laurel.

The DA earlier said it would adopt a “scientific” strategy to mitigate the impact of a potentially record-breaking El Niño.

The DA also assured that it is preparing a bigger food buffer to cushion the impact of the possible extreme drought by expanding rice storage capacity and opening more cold storage facilities.— MCG, GMA News

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