ILOILO – A total of 170 corn farmers from the towns of Miag-ao (66) and Leon (106) who attended the launching of the Fuel Discount Program received a discount card worth P3,000 each from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Out of the total number of 3,222 corn farmers allocated for Western Visayas, only those from the two towns were requested to join in observance of the minimum health protocols. The activity was held in Miag-ao, Iloilo on May 27.
“We hope that this fuel discount subsidy will help alleviate the current situation of our farmers with the high cost of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, fuel, and feeds,” said Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter.
The Fuel Discount Program is a response measure of the government to mitigate the impact of high cost of fuel that was imposed under President Rodrigo Duterte and DA secretary William Dar administration.
The Fuel Discount Card will be presented to the Department of Energy (DOE)- accredited fuel station per withdrawal of fuel that will be utilized by the farmer in his farming activities. Qualifications to avail the program entail that the corn farmer must own a machinery either tractor, corn sheller, pump and engine, and corn mill, among others.
As a response, one of the corn farmers from Miag-ao expressed her gratitude towards the Department for giving importance to their farming activities as this serves as their primary livelihood.
“Ang ini nga fuel discount dako gid nga bulig para sa amon tungod ginagamit namon ang krudo indi lang sa preparasyon sang amon taramnan kundi pati man sa amon mga makinaryas kaangay sang arado, hand tractor, kag may tubig kami nga ginapasakaan. Gani, dako gid ini nga bulig sa amon tanan nga mga mangunguma,” said Mary Sol Villarta, corn farmer from Barangay Kirayan-Sur, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Jose Albert Barrogo read the guidelines in identifying the farmers that are qualified for the said program while Field Operations Division Chief Dominador Marquez rendered his closing remarks.
Also present during the launching activity of the fuel discount were Miag-ao’s Mayor Macario Nicer Napulan, Farmer Director of Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC) Chairperson Buen Mondejar, and staff from the Universal Storefront Services Corporation (USSC).
Moreover, Western Visayas has an allocation of 7,166 qualified fisherfolk beneficiaries which will be identified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are bound to receive the same assistance. (DA-6/PN)
