BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The local government unit (LGU) of Benguet is extending support to the local farming communities in the province to help mitigate the effects of the oil crisis and low prices of highland vegetables.
Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan shared that a total of 20 million worth of assistance from the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) fund is set to be distributed to identified farmers in the different municipalities.
“Ang probinsiya po ng Benguet ay naglaan ng P20 million coming from the local DRRM fund to assist, to give financial assistance to the different farmers affected,” Juan said during the Kapihan sa Baguio on May 5, 2026.
This assistance will benefit 4,000 farmers who are registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
The RSBSA is an electronic compilation of basic information of farmers, farm laborers and fisherfolk, their agricultural activities, demographics and socio-economic characteristics.
The provincial agriculturist said that mechanisms are in place to ensure that assistances are maximized and inclusive.
“Ang ginagawa po ng provincial government ng Benguet is pinapauna niya po muna ‘yung mga assistance coming from the national line agencies para hindi po mag-o-overlap ‘yung mga assistance. Kung sino po ‘yung makitang farmers identified to join the TUPAD, they will not be availing the financial assistance,” she said.
“So ‘yung reported po ng mga municipalities, there would be allocations per municipality. Ibabalik namin sa kanila, they will finalize the list of the farmers who will be availing the P5,000 financial assistance coming from the provincial government, at ‘yung mga hindi po naka-receive sa financial assistance, sila po ‘yung mailalagay sa TUPAD,” Juan explained.
On top of the allotted amount, LGU Benguet is implementing other interventions to help the affected sectors.
“We have been continuing the Kadiwa ng Pangulo wherein highland vegetables are being sold by our farmer cooperators coming from our different FCAs, as well as the Benteng Bigas so that all our stakeholders, our vulnerable sectors would be able to avail of that assistance,” Juan added.
“Meron pong ginagawa ang local government na market linkaging with different LGUs, so fini-fix na po ni governor ‘yun with the different provinces who would be able to buy the different vegetables coming from the different farmers,” she added.
The provincial agriculturist also urged farmers who are not yet registered with the RSBSA to register so they can avail of the various services and programs of the government related to agriculture. **JDP/CVBT-PIA CAR
