The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said an additional PHP25 million worth of fuel subsidy may soon be released for farmers.

This came after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the fund to help cushion the impact of rising fuel costs on local food production.

“May naunang PHP150 million, so nag-release sila ng (There’s an earlier PHP150 million, so they have released an) additional PHP25 million,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a press conference.

De Mesa said around 5,000 eligible farmers can receive a PHP5,000 fuel subsidy within the month, as the planting season is now underway.

Besides the additional fuel subsidy, De Mesa said the distribution of the PHP10 billion Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) has already been completed.

Around 4.175 million farmers and fishers were entitled to the PHP2,325 PAFF, with the majority of the beneficiaries coming from the rice sector, totaling 2.197 million.

This was followed by 1.475 million corn producers, more than 102,000 sugar farmers, and about 399,000 fishers nationwide. (PNA)