News Details

Ilocos Norte Launches ?6-M Fuel Subsidy to Empower Local Farmers

NPO

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October 23, 2025

LAOAG CITY — The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has launched a ₱6-million fuel assistance program aimed at easing production costs and sustaining the livelihoods of local farmers amid rising fuel and agricultural input prices.

The subsidy forms part of “Agri Ka Dito,” the flagship initiative of the Office of the Governor designed to provide immediate and practical support to farmers and fisherfolk across the province.

According to Dhianina Torida of the Sustainable Development Center (SDC), the funding for the fuel assistance comes from Ilocos Norte’s share of the national tobacco excise tax.

“Farmers may walk in at the Sustainable Development Center or the Provincial Agriculture Office to submit their requests for agricultural assistance,” Torida told the Philippine News Agency.

The fuel subsidy may be availed for the operation of backhoes used in small farm reservoir construction and rehabilitation, as well as for hand tractors, harvesters, and other farm machinery critical to daily operations.

Local farmer Crisner Lagazo, who manages an integrated farm in Pasuquin, welcomed the new program after hearing the announcement online.

“This is good news for us. Every bit of fuel support helps sustain our farm operations,” Lagazo said.

Qualified and registered farmers can request assistance through a formal letter addressed to Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, subject to field validation and assessment by authorized government personnel.

Beyond fuel aid, Ilocos Norte’s agricultural programs also include crop production support, livestock distribution, fishery inputs, irrigation system projects, and farmers’ insurance coverage—all designed to strengthen the province’s agri-fishery sector and promote self-sufficiency.

Torida added that all farmers with valid IDs under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) are eligible to benefit from various government support initiatives.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR