The Department of Agriculture Bicol has rolled out the distribution of fertilizer discount vouchers (FDVs) worth a total of P10.87 million-worth for 3,446 rice farmers from 10 municipalities and one city in in the Province of Masbate. About 54 rice farmers from the Municipality of Milagros, Masbate attended the Ceremonial Distribution and Claiming of Fertilizer Discount Vouchers Support to Rice Farmers for the 2023 wet season cropping held at the Masbate Center for Livestock Development Masbate Breeding Center in Brgy. Asid, Masbate City on September 7, 2023.

Each farmer-beneficiary received a fertilizer voucher valued at P4,000 per hectare of actual area planted with inbred or hybrid rice or the equivalent value for a fraction of a hectare. Among the claimable fertilizer grades registered under the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) are complete, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, and muriate of potash.

Under the Distribution of National Rice Program-Fertilizer Assistance for Rice Farmers Starting 2023 Cropping Seasons, farmer-beneficiaries may claim fertilizer through FDVs that they can present to DA-accredited merchants within the region.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 14 series of 2023, the program aims to augment the fertilizer applied by farmers for rice production in targeted areas by providing fertilizer support via voucher. Only RSBSA-registered farmers whose names are encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS) are qualified to benefit from the program. Priority beneficiaries of the program are rice farmers who received high quality seeds from DA, those who planted using their self-procured seeds, and those who intend to plant for the covered cropping season.

Farmers cultivating more than 5 hectares in rice-clustered areas are allowed to receive an equivalent support based on the voucher value while fertilizer support for those in non-clustered rice areas are only limited for up to 5 hectares.

Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) for Masbate Wilfredo Nelmida led the ceremonial distribution of FDVs to the farmer-beneficiaries. Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) Provincial Coordinator Joan Manangat, LGU-Milagros Rice Coordinator Irene Royo, and Agricultural Technicians Engr. Jovel G. Corlet and Vanessa Almario from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Masbate also graced the event. LGU-Milagros AT Thea Navarro and Rubelyn Villa and APCO staff Denmark Donggon and Ruby Morados were also present during the activity.

The implementation of FDV program is funded under DA’s General Appropriations Act 2023 for the 2023 cropping seasons. As of September 13, 2023 DA Bicol has generated a total of 116,568 FDVs worth P420.07 million for the 2023 wet season cropping. These will benefit 111,761 rice farmers with a total farm area of 105,019 hectares. Meanwhile, a total of 51,047 FDVs worth a total of P183.60 million were already claimed by 49,289 farmers.

The DA is using the Interventions Management Platform (IMP), an enhanced version of the Voucher Management Platform featuring reports module and internal dashboard, in implementing the said program.

Distribution of FDVs in other provinces in Bicol will continue until September 14 while waiting for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) approval of the agency’s request for exemption from election-related ban on the release of public funds. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V with reports from Ladylyn Nebrea, DA RFO V Rice Program, Ruby Morados, DA APCO Masbate, and Karl Anthony Baylon)

DA Bicol rolls out distribution of P10.87M-worth fertilizer discount vouchers to rice farmers in Masbate

The Department of Agriculture Bicol has rolled out the distribution of fertilizer discount vouchers (FDVs) worth a total of P10.87 million-worth for 3,446 rice farmers from 10 municipalities and one city in in the Province of Masbate. About 54 rice farmers from the Municipality of Milagros, Masbate attended the Ceremonial Distribution and Claiming of Fertilizer Discount Vouchers Support to Rice Farmers for the 2023 wet season cropping held at the Masbate Center for Livestock Development Masbate Breeding Center in Brgy. Asid, Masbate City on September 7, 2023.

Each farmer-beneficiary received a fertilizer voucher valued at P4,000 per hectare of actual area planted with inbred or hybrid rice or the equivalent value for a fraction of a hectare. Among the claimable fertilizer grades registered under the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) are complete, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, and muriate of potash.

Under the Distribution of National Rice Program-Fertilizer Assistance for Rice Farmers Starting 2023 Cropping Seasons, farmer-beneficiaries may claim fertilizer through FDVs that they can present to DA-accredited merchants within the region.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 14 series of 2023, the program aims to augment the fertilizer applied by farmers for rice production in targeted areas by providing fertilizer support via voucher. Only RSBSA-registered farmers whose names are encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS) are qualified to benefit from the program. Priority beneficiaries of the program are rice farmers who received high quality seeds from DA, those who planted using their self-procured seeds, and those who intend to plant for the covered cropping season.

Farmers cultivating more than 5 hectares in rice-clustered areas are allowed to receive an equivalent support based on the voucher value while fertilizer support for those in non-clustered rice areas are only limited for up to 5 hectares.

Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) for Masbate Wilfredo Nelmida led the ceremonial distribution of FDVs to the farmer-beneficiaries. Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) Provincial Coordinator Joan Manangat, LGU-Milagros Rice Coordinator Irene Royo, and Agricultural Technicians Engr. Jovel G. Corlet and Vanessa Almario from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Masbate also graced the event. LGU-Milagros AT Thea Navarro and Rubelyn Villa and APCO staff Denmark Donggon and Ruby Morados were also present during the activity.

The implementation of FDV program is funded under DA’s General Appropriations Act 2023 for the 2023 cropping seasons. As of September 13, 2023 DA Bicol has generated a total of 116,568 FDVs worth P420.07 million for the 2023 wet season cropping. These will benefit 111,761 rice farmers with a total farm area of 105,019 hectares. Meanwhile, a total of 51,047 FDVs worth a total of P183.60 million were already claimed by 49,289 farmers.

The DA is using the Interventions Management Platform (IMP), an enhanced version of the Voucher Management Platform featuring reports module and internal dashboard, in implementing the said program.

Distribution of FDVs in other provinces in Bicol will continue until September 14 while waiting for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) approval of the agency’s request for exemption from election-related ban on the release of public funds. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V with reports from Ladylyn Nebrea, DA RFO V Rice Program, Ruby Morados, DA APCO Masbate, and Karl Anthony Baylon)