n Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alex Castro together with Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria Carrillo lead the distribution of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance 2022 from the Department of Agriculture through its regional field office to some 1,803 eligible rice farmer-beneficiaries from the first district during the first day of the subsidy distribution held at the Bulacan Sports Complex, Malolos, Bulacan on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
THE Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the provincial government of Bulacan, began the distribution of P5,000 cash assistance to 7,684 rice farmers to compensate for the income loss stemming from the decline in the selling price of palay (unmilled rice) and the increasing cost of fertilizer and other inputs.