₱3.9-M PAFFP aid reaches 1,700 farmers, fisherfolk in Ozamiz

 

By Bhal Abad Cabrera | August 15, 2026

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental—For 1,700 farmers and fisherfolk in Ozamiz City, government assistance meant more than a payout—it provided immediate financial relief as production costs and livelihood expenses continue to weigh on agricultural communities.

Each qualified beneficiary received ₱2,325 in cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP) during a distribution on Friday, August 14, bringing the total assistance released in the city to about ₱3.9 million.

The distribution covered qualified beneficiaries from all 51 barangays of Ozamiz City, underscoring the effort to bring national government assistance directly to communities that depend on farming and fishing for their livelihood.

But behind the figures is a broader story of government coordination.

The PAFFP assistance was delivered through collaboration among the national government, the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental led by Governor Henry Sevilla Oaminal, and the City Government of Ozamiz led by Mayor Sam Norman G. Fuentes.

The partnership allowed a national agricultural assistance program to be translated into direct support for beneficiaries at the local level.

Under Governor Oaminal's administration, the provincial government has continued coordinating with national agencies and local government units to bring agricultural assistance, livelihood programs and other development interventions closer to Misamisnons.

In Ozamiz, the city government worked with its provincial and national counterparts to facilitate the distribution and ensure that qualified beneficiaries across the city's 51 barangays could access the assistance.

For farmers and fisherfolk, the ₱2,325 cash grant can help offset some of the immediate costs associated with their livelihood—from fuel and farm inputs to other day-to-day production expenses.

The PAFFP primarily covers qualified beneficiaries listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), including rice and corn farmers and registered fisherfolk.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) implements the program in coordination with provincial and local governments and other concerned agencies.

While the amount received by each beneficiary may be modest compared with the rising cost of agricultural production, the distribution highlights a more important measure of government assistance: whether national programs actually reach the people they are intended to serve.

In Ozamiz, the latest payout placed nearly ₱3.9 million directly into the hands of 1,700 farmers and fisherfolk—another layer of support for communities that remain vital to the city's food supply and local economy.

For the beneficiaries, the assistance offers immediate relief. For the three levels of government involved, it also puts a spotlight on the importance of sustained coordination in turning public funds and national programs into tangible support on the ground.