CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 has encouraged farmers to register with the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) in order for them to avail of whatever interventions the agency will provide.
DA-7 Regional Executive Director Salvador D. Diputado made the call in response to the clamor of some farmers that they were not included in the list of beneficiaries of the DA projects, especially in the Financial Subsidy for Rice Farmers (FSRF).
In a statement, he said that under the FSRF guidelines, only those rice farmers tilling below one hectare and duly registered with the RSBSA will qualify for the P5,000 cash subsidy.
"Since last year, we have been conducting briefings with the Municipal Agriculture Officer on RSBSA and for them to facilitate in administering the registration. All interventions and subsidies for the farmers will be based on the RSBSA. We have been encouraging our farmers to enroll in the RSBSA," Diputado said.
He added there were some farmers complaining that they were not included in the FSRF beneficiaries despite having filled out the RSBSA form.
However, even if the farmers have filled out the RSBSA form, but there were lacking entries, it would be considered void.
He said that local government units, through the Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO/MA), Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC), Farmers' Association President and barangay captains, have a critical role in the RSBSA because they will certify true and correct the entries the farmers had filled out.
Meanwhile, the DA-7 has released P238.5 million in financial cash assistance to the 47,682 rice farmers of Bohol and Negros Oriental.
The cash assistance the DA has provided under the FSRF was released through the Land Bank of the Philippines to the farmers in the said provinces at P5,000 each.
Diputado said that Region-7 has a total of 62,536 FSRF beneficiaries.
He said that of the 47,682 rice farmers who claimed their cash assistance, 39,913 are from Bohol and 7,769 are from Negros Oriental.
Diputado said that the FSRF is a DA-initiated program that assists small rice farmers who were affected by the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and are not covered by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA). GAN (FREEMAN)