Manila, April 8 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said savings from fuel and energy consumption cuts are being utilized to provide logistics aid to farmers and fishers.

National government agencies have been ramping up efforts to slash energy and transport costs amid the surging global oil prices.

"Nagtitipid kami sa amin pero (We are being frugal in the agency but) we refocus our funds for the logistics needs of our farmers and fishers," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an interview on Wednesday.

The DA minimizes utilization of government vehicles, down to regional field offices, as well as the imposition of flexible work arrangements.

Efforts to support local farmers, meanwhile, include the dep...