MANILA, Oct. 6 -- Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III on Monday announced that one million rice farmers will each receive PHP7,000 in direct cash assistance under the 2026 national budget as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s expanded support for the agriculture sector.

Speaking at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga and the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, Dy said the assistance will help farmers recover from income losses caused by the drop in palay prices.

He said the program is aligned with Executive Order (EO) No. 93, which suspends rice importation to protect local producers from oversupply and low ...