Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa encourages all farmers and fishers to be listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to take full advantage of the Department’s various programs, projects, and services.

The RSBSA refers to the electronic compilation or database of basic information of farmers, farm laborers, fishermen and target beneficiaries of agriculture-related programs and services of the government.

It is the minimum requirement in receiving/availing agri-fishery-related government services particularly programs and projects of the DA, its bureaus, attached agencies and corporations.

With the DA’s wide array of programs and continued assistance to farmers and fishers, Dir. de Mesa guarantees that stakeholders can reap all the benefits once they register with RSBSA.

“I encourage all farmers and fishers to register in RSBSA to benefit from all of the government’s programs, projects, and services being implemented.” Dir. de Mesa said.

In his recent visit to typhoon-affected farmers in the region, Dir. de Mesa reminded the farmers who are not yet registered to the system to be listed ASAP to be surely included in all of DA’s programs.

Dir. de Mesa announced that eligible small farmers and fishers registered in RSBSA will receive P5,000 grant under the DA’s version of Social Amelioration Program whereas P3,000 will be given in cash and P2,000 will be given in kind (agricultural products). This program will be implemented before the year ends.

Furthermore, RSBSA-enlisted farmers and fishers can also loan as much as P25,000 at zero interest and can be paid for up to 10 years.

Dir. de Mesa said that these are only some of the interventions that farmers and fishers registered with RSBSA can take full advantage of and there is no downside in registering in the said system.

To register, the first step is to prepare all the necessary documents, including the original title of the farm land, government ID, and 2×2 picture, in order for the farmer or fisherfolk to be RSBSA-registered. After doing so, go to the city or municipal agriculture office to fill out the RSBSA enrolment form that will then be signed by the chairman of the concerned barangay, the city or municipal agriculturist, and city or municipal agricultural and fishery council chairman. The next step is to submit the complete and signed enrolment form to the city or municipal agriculture office. Lastly, claim the RSBSA enrolment stub, which will serve as proof that the farmer/fisher is RSBSA-registered and qualified to benefit from all DA services, programs, and projects. (MAP, DA-RAFIS)