Marcos: Gov’t ready to aid farmers

Speaking before farmers in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured them that the government will provide assistance to those affected by calamities, now that the country has entered the rainy season.

He said the Department of Agriculture is prepared to assist farmers who lost their crops in storms.

“If it is still possible to replant, the DA will come in and help you replant. If it is too late, we will provide you with support,” Marcos told farmers.

He also noted that damaged crops are secured through insurance. For farmers who have yet to enroll, the DA is ready to extend its services.

“So, it's not like before – because it was so expensive – that others say it’s expensive, it was done by province and of course it couldn't cover everything,” he said.

“But, since the DA is doing it, insurance can cover more. That's why we expanded the coverage of our insurances,” he added.

Marcos said that when farmers struggle to recover, the government will provide subsidies to help them prepare for the next planting season.

He lamented that due to crop losses from nine months of El Niño, the administration had to rely on importation.

“We were forced to import a lot. Then on top of that, our insurance is not yet complete. But now, we are ready,” he said.

“If El Niño happens again and those storms keep coming back, if you remember, six storms in less than a month, six storms that hit the Philippines – we are now ready because we know what needs to be done,” he added.

Marcos emphasized systems implemented by the DA and the National Food Authority, including preparedness at the local level.

“We know what we need to do. We have adjusted the system so that our farmers don't have to suffer too much. As I mentioned, the life of the farmer is already very difficult, we must support him as much as possible,” he said.
“So, that's what we are doing. That insurance for the damaged crops and then our recovery if it happens that we can plant again, that's what we will do.”

The President said that as long as farmers are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), they will receive assistance from the government when needed.

He recalled that in 2024, the Office of the President extended support through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) multiple times.

Under PAFFF, those affected by calamities receive ₱10,000 in aid.

Localities reached by PAFFF include Lingayen in Pangasinan; Pili in Camarines Sur; Tagaytay City in Cavite; Legazpi City in Albay; Ilagan in Isabela; Oriental Mindoro; Laurel and Talisay in Batangas.