A total of 1,489 farmers from upland barangays received P2,325 each in financial assistance on Saturday, April 25, as the city government stepped up support for the agriculture sector amid prolonged dry conditions.
The aid, released under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), was facilitated by the Office of the City Mayor, with distribution led by Chief of Staff Kenneth Siasar.
The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA 7) disbursed the funds, while personnel from the Cebu City Agriculture Department assisted in validating beneficiary lists to ensure proper targeting and smooth release.
Mayor Nestor Archival said the city prioritized upland farmers, whose livelihoods continue to be strained by extended heat and declining farm productivity.
He noted that many depend on rainfed farming and backyard vegetable production, making them highly vulnerable to prolonged dry spells and shifting weather patterns.
“Ang atong mga mag-uuma mao ang kamot sa matag pagkaon nga atong gikaon sa panimalay. Ilang paghago usahay dili makita, apan sila ang nagdala sa atong panginabuhian matag adlaw,” Archival said.
“Sayong buntag pa lang, nagtrabaho na sila bisan sa kainit, ulan, ug walay kasiguruhan. Importante ang ilang kahago ug sakripisyo, ug angay silang pasidunggan,” he added.
The mayor also acknowledged support from the national government.
“Mapasalamaton kita kang Presidente Ferdinand ‘BBM’ Marcos Jr. sa padayon nga tabang ug sa pag-ila sa kahinungdanon sa mga mag-uuma nga naghatag pagkaon sa atong siyudad,” he said.
Beneficiaries came from 27 upland barangays, including Adlaon, Agsungot, Binaliw, Bonbon, Busay, Budlaan, Buhisan, Babag, Cambinocot, Buot, Guba, Kalunasan, Lusaran, Malubog, Mabini, Pamutan, Paril, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Toong, Tabunan, Taptap, and Sirao.
The distribution came as Cebu City remained under a state of preparedness due to intensifying heat and prolonged dry spells, conditions that have begun to affect crop yields, water supply, and overall farm productivity.
A City Council resolution earlier this month flagged “significant risks to public health, water supply, food security, and environmental sustainability,” particularly in upland and rural communities where farming is a primary source of income.
Reports from these areas pointed to declining harvests, rising transport costs, and unsold produce, adding to the financial strain on farmers.
Archival said the cash assistance forms part of broader interventions to cushion the impact of adverse weather, alongside plans to improve market access, provide farm inputs, and roll out technical support.
Further measures, including the possible declaration of a state of calamity in affected areas, remain under review pending assessment by agriculture and disaster management authorities. (LLP)
Image courtesy of Nestor Archival / Facebook
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