LEGAZPI CITY: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday distributed PHP50 million worth of financial assistance to 5,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and their families affected by the El Niño phenomenon in the province of Albay.
“I am here today-along with several government agencies-to greet you and personally deliver service and assistance,” the Chief Executive told those gathered at the Albay Astrodome here.
He urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the government aid to get up and start anew in their livelihood.
“And, I will also add that you should not be shy about approaching your barangay captains, your mayors, the congressman, [or] governor, and any other government agency if you need additional help because we are also in constant contact to find out what additional assistance we can provide,” Marcos added.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA) data, the dry spell caused by El Niño resulted in PHP532.8 million worth of production losses.
During the aid distribution, the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the lead agency, gave PHP10,000 in financial assistance to the 5,000 farmers, fishers, and their families under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
Eduardo Albert Gnilo, 60, a farmer from Barangay Tagoytoy, Camalig town, thanked the government for the cash aid.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Presidente sa financial assistance na amin natanggap ngayon, para sa amin(g) kabuhayan (I thank the President for the financial assistance we received today, for our livelihood),” he said.
Gnilo said he would use the PHP10,000 to prepare for the next cropping season and the daily expenses of his family.
Guinobatan Mayor Paul Garcia also thanked the President for the assistance provided to the farmers and fisherfolk in his town.
“Maraming salamat po President Bongbong Marcos for the assistance and sa mga infrastructure projects sa aming bayan. Malaking tulong po para sa kaunlaran at kaayusan ng amin bayan (Thank you very much, President Bongbong Marcos, for the assist
ance and the infrastructure projects for our town. It is a big help for the development and order in our municipality),” he said.
DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio, in an interview, said the DSWD’s AKAP initiative highlights the administration’s dedication to aiding vulnerable communities and ensuring food security in the face of environmental challenges.
“This assistance is expected not only to provide immediate relief but also to enable affected families to recover and sustain their livelihoods during these difficult times,” he said.
The President also turned over assistance from the DA and its attached agencies, including two units of open-source pumping sets, one unit of cassava granulator, 10 sacks of hybrid seeds, 10 sacks of hybrid corn seeds, 10 sacks of urea fertilizer, 10 sacks of complete fertilizer, 10 sacks of muriate of potash fertilizer, two units of tractor from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, three units of 18-foot fiber fishing boats, 20 bo
ttom sets of gillnets from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and 10 sacks of inbred certified seeds from the Philippine Rice Research Institute.
The Office of the President likewise extended around PHP100 million to the provincial governments of Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
Source: Philippines News Agency
