PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved and ordered the release of P12.7 billion for the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) to help about 2.3 million small rice farmers amid some agricultural challenges in the country, Malacañang announced Saturday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said that Marcos made the order on Thursday in a bid to help farmers 'cope with the increasing production cost and sustain their productivity.' '[This would] help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity even in the face of challenges like the coming El Niño [phenomenon],' the President said, referring to the government's RFFA.