Sablan Fisherfolks get P265K cash and food aid

Sablan, Benguet – Fifty-three fisherfolks in this municipality received cash and food assistance amounting to P265,000.00 from the Department of Agriculture on Friday, January 15,2021 through the Cash and Food Subsidy Program for Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolk (CFSMFF).

Each beneficiary according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera were them given QR-coded vouchers worth PHP 5,000.00.

CFSMFF is a subsidy program funded under Bayanihan 2 which aims to provide P3,000.00 cash and P2,000.00 worth of food assistance to eligible RSBA-registered, smallholder farmers and fisherfolk affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Regional Director Lilibeth L. Signey, fisherfolks could claim their cash assistance at any Lhuillier branch while the Php2,000.00-worth food assistance will be given in the form of goods such as rice, chicken and egg.

She further said the distribution of food assistance aims to give market support to local producers.

For such reason, the Banayakeo Sustainable Livelihood Program Association, a DA-recognized KADIWA supplier facilitated the distribution of goods with the assistance of the DA-Agribusiness & Marketing Assistance Division.

In a message by Sablan Mayor Manuel B. Munar Jr., he encouraged the beneficiaries to organize “an association to strengthen and sustain fisheries interventions in the municipality”.

The Province of Benguet, according to BFAR-CAR’s report, has a target of 413 recipients for said program.

Recipients are reminded by Benguet Provincial Fisheries Officer Riza A. Pulac not to crumple the given vouchers as this will serve as their claim stub for the the cash assistance.

The distribution of said assistance was undertaken in coordination with BFAR, together with Sablan-MA Ramon M. Anacioco and SB Committee Chairman on Agriculture Cornelio Almacen.