By Benjamin Cuaresma
DUMAGUETE CITY — More than 5,000 small sugarcane farmers in Negros Oriental whose livelihoods have been battered by the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation have received a combined PHP51.7 million in emergency cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR).
DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said the latest payout benefited 355 farmers from Bayawan City and Siaton, with each recipient receiving PHP10,125 under the agency’s Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program.
The latest distribution brought to 5,112 the number of RSSI-affected farmers assisted by the agency in Negros Oriental.
Razo said the latest payout was the third leg of the distribution program, following earlier releases to affected farmers in other parts of the province.
“Actually, this is the 3rd leg of the payout because we finished with Mabinay, Bais City, and Zamboanguita last week. They had more affected sugarcane farmers,” Razo said.
Before the latest distribution, 4,757 farmers in six localities had already received the same financial assistance earlier this month.
The beneficiaries included 839 farmers in Bais City, 867 in Canlaon City, 70 in Jimalalud, 2,551 in Mabinay, 359 in Pamplona and 71 in Zamboanguita.
The DSWD-NIR said the names of qualified beneficiaries were submitted by their respective local government units, which identified small sugarcane farmers whose crops and livelihoods were affected by the RSSI infestation.
Razo said the assistance is intended to provide immediate financial relief to farmers dealing with the impact of the infestation, which has threatened sugarcane production and household incomes in affected communities.
The DSWD’s ECT is designed to provide direct and unconditional financial assistance to families and individuals affected by disasters and other emergencies.
The agency has also extended similar assistance to affected small sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental, although Razo said the DSWD-NIR was still consolidating the total number of beneficiaries in the province.
Razo urged local governments to promptly submit the names of qualified constituents affected by the RSSI infestation to ensure that eligible farmers are included in the government’s emergency assistance program.
ia/xf
