To support local rice farmers in one of the remotest areas in the country, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02 (DA RFO 02) distributed Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) to 49 farmer-beneficiaries in Itbayat, Batanes. Each farmer received P7,000 cash to help sustain their farming activities.

The distribution was held on March 26, 2025, at the Itbayat Municipal Hall, ensuring that the financial aid reached the farmers directly despite the island’s logistical challenges and high transportation costs.

Representing Regional Executive Director Dr. Rose Mary Aquino, Dr. Marvin Luis, the concurrent Regional Rice Coordinator and OIC-Chief of the Field Operations Division (FOD) of the DA RFO 02, led the distribution. He was joined by Mr. Bryan Jaquine Rasalan, Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) Profiling Head, Ms. Yvone Bumagat, Rice Provincial Coordinator and some RSBSA staff.

The activity was also coordinated with the Office of the Provincial Agriculture of Batanes and witnessed by local officials, including Itbayat Municipal Mayor Sabas De Sagon and Municipal Agriculturist Donabel Gulaga, along with their staff.

Mayor De Sagon expressed his gratitude to the DA RFO 02 for its continued support.

“Kahit malayo kami, hindi kami nakakalimutan ng DA, lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka. Napakalaking tulong nito sa kanila,” he said.

Dr. Luis also encouraged the farmers to increase local rice production and lessen their reliance on supplies from the mainland.

“Mas mainam na tayo mismo ang magtanim para hindi na tayo umasa sa inaangkat mula sa mainland,” he urged, emphasizing the importance of food security and self-sufficiency in the province.

Through the RFFA program, DA RFO 02 continues its mission of empowering farmers in distant and vulnerable areas, ensuring they receive the necessary support to enhance agricultural productivity and sustain their livelihoods.