TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Philippines – At least 1,738 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries are set to receive financial and rice subsidy assistance next week in this city.

The farmers who hail from 18 village communities in this city will receive rice subsidy while the fisherfolk are also set to receive financial assistance through the cash-for-work program.

Officials of the city government here and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the distribution of the government assistance on August 11 and 12, this year.

Meanwhile, the Caraga Region office of the DSWD Caraga also reported that a total of 62,333 small-scale farmers and fisherfolk in Northeastern Mindanao are also set to receive cash assistance through the DSWD.

These beneficiaries were identified through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS).

The Rice Subsidy Program for Small-Scale Farmers and Fisherfolk through Cash-for-Work/Cash-for-Training aims to rehabilitate communities and make them more disaster and calamity-proof through participating in or undertaking training and community activities while at the same time giving added income to the laborers during the lean months due to the effects of the increasing prices of commodities and fuel brought about by calamities.

As of Friday, the DSWD-Caraga has already released the subsidy in: Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Carmen, and Buenavista in Agusan del Norte; Mainit, Tubod, Claver, Bacuag, Placer, and Burgos in Surigao del Norte; Carmen and Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur; San Jose on the Province of Dinagat Islands; Butuan City; and Bislig City.