VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon – To ease the burden of rising fuel costs and strengthen mechanized farming, the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) has released ₱4.152 million in fuel subsidies to 1,384 farmers in Valencia City

The assistance was distributed during the Fuel Assistance to Farmers Project (FAtFP) Caravan held on September 9–10 in Brgy. Pinatilan. Each farmer-beneficiary received an Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC) loaded with ₱3,000 worth of fuel credits, which can be redeemed at accredited gasoline stations.

DA-10 said the program not only supports farmers’ transition to full mechanization but also cushions them from volatile fuel prices.

To qualify, farmers must own or rent operational farm machinery registered in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System (ABEMIS) and be listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) or the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS).

Engr. Romil G. Española, OIC-chief of DA-10’s Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, urged farmers to register their equipment in the Registration of Ownership of Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment System (RAFMES).

“By registering, we can properly inventory machines owned by individuals or associations and the production areas they serve. This helps us provide the right machinery to qualified farmers,” Española explained, while reminding beneficiaries to maximize their fuel credits responsibly.

For many, the aid is a welcome relief. Corn farmer Jicelyn A. Casino of Brgy. Concepcion shared how the subsidy would lessen their harvest costs.

“We have a two-hectare cornfield. Every harvest, we rent a sheller at 40 centavos per kilo, and we shoulder the fuel costs. With this subsidy, we can save on rental fees since the fuel is already covered. This is a big help for us small farmers,” she said in an interview.

The DA-10, in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and fintech firm Universal Storefront Services Corp. (USSC), is set to release another ₱40.122 million in fuel subsidies under the 2024 budget to benefit 13,374 more farmers across Northern Mindanao.

This initiative is part of the Marcos administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign, with DA leading efforts to modernize agriculture, enhance food production, and uplift farming communities through mechanized systems. (BJCE/melbmadera)