The Department of Agriculture (DA) was flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2024 audit report for granting Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) to more than 58,000 beneficiaries who were found to be ineligible for the program.

According to the COA report, a total of 58,784 farmer-beneficiaries of RFFA were found ineligible across Regions I, IV-A, IV-B, V, IX, X, and XI.

“These beneficiaries were either not rice farmers; not registered with the RSBA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture); tilling or owning more than two hectares of farmland; or failed to submit the necessary paperwork to support their declaration of farmland area,” COA said.

Under DA Memorandum Circular No. 16, series of 2019, the RFFA program provides P5,000 in financial assistance to smallholder rice farmers affected by declining palay farmgate prices.

COA reported that 1,081 farmers in Regions I, IV-A, IV-B, IX, X, and XI were ineligible to receive the cash assistance. Of these, 333 were non-rice farmers, 295 were not registered with RSBA, 453 were tilling or owning more than two hectares of farmland, and 57,703 failed to submit documents supporting their declared farmland area.

“It cannot be ascertained whether said farmers were eligible to receive the cash assistance,” COA said.

The audit also found that 799 farmers in Region XII were already inactive and could no longer be considered rice farmers. Validation records further showed that 21,392 farmers from Regions VII and XIII were either deceased or not included in the list of eligible beneficiaries.

“The cash assistance granted to those whose eligibility is questionable could have been utilized to support other qualified beneficiaries; thus, defeating the core objective of the program,” COA said.

COA also noted that 48,020 farmers from Regions VI and XII, representing 16.06 percent of the 299,079 listed beneficiaries, did not receive cash assistance due to a lack of coordination and validation by institutional partners of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund–RFFA.

In response, the DA committed to ensure stricter eligibility checks and to conduct regular field validation of program beneficiaries.

Goat project losses flagged

Separately, COA flagged the DA over the death of 52 goats valued at P2.438 million under the Anglo Nubian and Saanen Goat Production Project.

Based on inventory records dated January 1, 2024, the DA–Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center in Sual, Pangasinan, held 68 Anglo Nubian and 33 Saanen breeder goats. However, COA reported that 52 goats died in 2024 while under the custody of the accountable officer, who had filed 41 requests for relief from accountability.

According to the necropsy report, the goats died from various illnesses and diseases.

“Affidavits from the AO and farm staff further indicated that the animals showed signs of malnutrition, had weakened immune systems, and were unable to withstand environmental stress and natural calamities,” COA said.

The commission noted that while the project was established in 2022, no funds were allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses from 2023 onward.

“To address the lack of provision for animal feed, the Station Chief/AO, utilized surplus or excess feed supplies from the National Livestock Program (NLP) and supplemented with grasses, foliage, and legumes to sustain the goats,” COA reported.

DA Regional Field Office I said the goats were procured under a locally funded project that was not part of the department’s regular programs, activities, and projects.

State auditors cited the accountable officer as saying that NLP feed deliveries were intermittent during the first half of 2024 due to procurement delays, and that no allocation was provided for the goats during the second semester.

COA recommended that the project be integrated into the DA’s regular programs, with proper funding for feed, medicine, and other essential needs. It also suggested distributing the remaining goats to qualified beneficiaries or transferring them to other suitable projects.

The regional office said the proposed 2025 budget includes funding for goat feed procurement.

“The feed supply remains sufficient, with 143 bags in stock based on the most recent inventory, supplemented by an initial delivery of 160 bags on April 14, 2025,” the report said.