The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to begin distributing ₱5,000 fuel assistance to qualified farmers nationwide, following the recent surge in global oil prices that has increased production and transportation costs for the agricultural sector.

According to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the program has an approved budget of ₱50 million and will benefit 9,570 farmers who use machinery, as recorded in the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering database.

Laurel emphasized that only legitimate beneficiaries listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture will receive the aid.

The fuel subsidy initiative comes after oil prices reached USD $89.02 per barrel, surpassing the USD $80 threshold triggering assistance. This follows a similar program previously provided for fishermen, and the DA is exploring additional funding to expand the reach of the subsidy to more farmers.