CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, June 30 (PIA) - - The Department of Agriculture (DA) thru the Land of the Philippines continues to distribute cash assistance to qualified farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program (RFFA).

Land Bank Manager Odaline Narag said that as of June 29, some 4,665 farmers out of the 11,473 farmers affected by the Rice Tariffication Law in the province already received their P5, 000.00 cash assistance. This represents 40 percent distribution accomplishment.

Farmers are urged to claim their assistance every afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00pm. "But we still accommodate those claiming in the morning," Narag said.

In case of absence of named beneficiary, she said immediate members of the family may claim as representative upon presentation of required documents like letter request and proof of affiliation. Agriculture officers of local government units are responsible in issuing certifications as to the identity of questioned beneficiaries, she added.

The Philippine National Police is helping Landbank during distribution to ensure order and compliance to the mandatory wearing of facemask and observance of social distancing.

Landbank partnered with the DA for the RFFA Program pouring in P3-billion unconditional cash transfer program which aims to give P5,000 financial assistance each to 600,000 rice farmers nationwide who are tilling 0.5 to two hectares of land.Fevelyn Macadaeg of the

Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office said Land Bank distributes said assistance through over the counter and on-site. Land Bank conducted on-site distribution for Tabuk City and Rizal. Other beneficiaries went to Capitol gym for the distribution in the past days.

For those who were not able to receive the cash assistance during on-site distribution, they are advised to claim it at Landbank.

Among the challenges of the cash distribution include name discrepancies of farmers and some following schedules of distribution. The community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic also caused delay in the distribution, Narag said. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)