GEN. MACARTHUR, Samar --- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Eastern Samar provincial office, in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of General MacArthur and Llorente, conducted the distribution of Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginalized Farmers and Fisherfolk (CFSMFF) on December 22, 2020.

The distribution in Gen. MacArthur was done in the Office of the Municipal Agricultural Services (OMAS) where five coconut farmer-beneficiaries from Brgy. Camcueves of Gen. MacArthur qualified for the CFSMFF; while the distribution in Llorente was held in the PCA Eastern Samar provincial office where four coconut farmer-beneficiaries from Brgy. San Roque of Llorente also qualified for the said program.

Each farmer-beneficiary received ₱3,000.00 cash assistance and food assistance worth ₱2,000 which consists of a 25-kilogram sack of rice, dressed chicken, and eggs.

For the cash and food assistance, each farmer-beneficiary was provided with a unique reference code and an E-voucher with QR code which enable them to encash through an accredited pay-out center and supplier of food, where they had to present a proof of their identity for validation purposes upon claiming.

PCA Eastern Samar assisted the beneficiaries in claiming their cash and food assistance. Coconut farmer-beneficiaries were identified carefully with thorough validation, and are all registered coconut farmers to the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS).

The CFSMFF program aims to provide secure and direct cash and food assistance to eligible smallholder farmers and fisherfolk affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. ### (PCA VIII)