Starting May 15, some two million small-scale farmers and fisherfolk nationwide will benefit from the P4.23-billion “Rice for Work” program of the Aquino administration, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said during the CNEX Forum held at the Philippine Information Agency.
According to Sec. Soliman, the rice subsidy program will augment their incomes during the lean months following a harvest season.
The DSWD chief said the subsidy will be used to pay the fishermen and fisherfolk’s wages equivalent to 14 days work in a month.
She said this subsidy forms part of government’s efforts to address the ever increasing prices of fuel and food as well as to provide gainful employment for the disadvantaged members of society.
Beneficiaries, she said, will be given either vouchers, cash or bags of rice by the DSWD in exchange for their services, which can be redeemed at their nearest local government unit.
These services include, but not limited to, the preparation and cleaning of the farms to be used during the next planting season.
To ensure that the beneficiaries really belonged to those that needed the assistance the most, she said the list has been guaranteed by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, the Department of Agriculture, and Department of Agrarian Reform.
Likewise, she said, the beneficiaries will be validated by the provincial and local social welfare office in the area.
Eventually, she added the DSWD will include in their list of beneficiaries members of urban poor communities.
