19 January 2021, Davao City -- The Department of Agriculture (DA)-XI has launched the Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fishers (CFSMFF) Program for Region XI in Baganga, Davao Oriental, on January 19, 2021. CFSMFF is part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act that aims to provide secure and direct food and financial assistance to families of farmers and fisherfolks whose sources of income were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.1DA-XI Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. said that CFSMFF has a target of 8,471 beneficiaries but may increase due to recent amendments on the guidelines of the project criteria.

In Baganga, the distribution of the subsidy for the 920 farmer-beneficiaries was divided into three days to ensure that the proper health protocols were observed.

Each of the farmer-beneficiaries received a subsidy worth P5,000 - P3,000 in cash and P2,000 worth of food items comprising 25 kgs. of rice worth P1,000 provided by the Davao del Norte Irrigator Marketing Cooperative; 3.33 kgs. of dressed chicken worth P600 provided by Bounty Fresh and Donnabella Poultry Trading Supplies; and 2 trays of eggs worth P400 provided by Khenlee Enterprises.

Hon. Arturo C. Monday, Municipal Mayor of Baganga, expressed his gratitude to DA-XI RTD for Operations Marila L. Corpuz, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-XI Regional Director Raul C. Millana, and Philippine Coconut Authority RD Juvy Alayon for the assistance provided for the farmers, given the current situation.