Filipino farmers and fishers are expected to receive at least PHP100 million worth of fuel subsidy from the government amid a looming oil price hikes due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.

In a press conference, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earlier approved a PHP150 million fund for the agency’s fuel subsidy program.

Of the total, PHP100 million has already been disbursed to the DA and is ready for distribution.

Farmers and fishers will receive PHP5,000 and PHP3,000 worth of one-time aid per person, respectively.

“Inaasahan nating 9,700 farmers ‘yung paunang makakatanggap ng assistance (We expect 9,700 farmers to initially receive the assistance) under the fuel subsidy program,” De Mesa said.

Eligible farmers are those officially registered to the government’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), and who either own or rent machinery for production.

For fishers, qualification includes registration in the RSBSA or Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System (FishR), owning boats weighing 3 gross tons or less, and being compliant with legal fishing methods and practices.

“Makakareceive sila ng PHP3,000 – ang unang makakatanggap ay (They will receive PHP3,000 – the initial recipients are) 15,800 fisherfolk,” De Mesa said.

The remaining PHP50 million, meanwhile, will be released by the DBM once global oil prices hit USD80 per barrel due to prolonged tensions in the Middle East.

Overall, fuel subsidy per sector will be PHP75 million, which will benefit a total of 14,500 farmers and 23,800 fishers.

The DA official said fuel subsidies can be immediately released, provided they complete their registrations for the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC).

Under the measure, eligible beneficiaries must be registered with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Fintech to secure their IMCs.

“Kukunan sila nung tinatawag na KYC, Know Your Client, tapos kapag napirmahan na ‘yung kanilang registration forms, ipa-process and then ire-release na ‘yung IMC card nila (They will be asked for their KYC, Know Your Client, and then once their registration forms are signed, it will be processed, then their IMC cards will be released),” De Mesa said.

The PHP5,000 and PHP3,000 fuel aid will be directly disbursed to IMCs, which are locked-in for automatic payment transactions with fuel stations.

For rural areas with connectivity challenges, De Mesa said the DA will issue vouchers for fuel subsidies.

The DA will continue to distribute farm inputs like seedlings, fertilizers and machinery beginning on the next planting season to minimize the impact of Middle East tensions and global crude adjustments on local food production.

“These are all given for free, sa ating mga magsasaka (to our farmers),” he said. (PNA)