At least 186,309 farmers from the six provinces in the Bicol region will receive cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), an agency official said on Friday.

In an interview, Lovella Guarin, DA-Bicol spokesperson, said each farmer can expect to receive a higher amount from last year’s.

“The funds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) were from 2024. It will be distributed this semester. Our farmers will now be receiving PHP7,000 from the previous PHP5,000,” Guarin said.

She said the beneficiaries are those listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in agriculture and whose farmlands are two hectares and below.

“The total amount is more than PHP1.3 billion. The release will start by the first quarter and we are just verifying the listed beneficiaries,” Guarin added. (PNA)