CALBAYOG CITY (July 4, 2024) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., joined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and other Cabinet officials, continues to assist the agriculture and fisheries sectors severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon through the distribution of aid and presidential assistance to select farmers, fisherfolk, and their families in Eastern Visayas.
“Narito ang inyong pamahalaan upang iparamdam ang aming suporta sa iyo na walang pagod na nagsisikap upang matiyak na mayroong pagkain sa hapag ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Kayo po na mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang tunay na bayani ng ating bansa at nararapat lamang na bigyang pugay at suportahan namin ang inyong sipag at inyong galing,” President Marcos told the beneficiaries at the Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU) in Calbayog City, Samar, on Thursday, July 4.
Samar province was the first stop for the Presidential team in distributing Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) in the region.
The President also turned over Php50 million to the Provincial Government of Samar; Php19.3 million to the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar; and Php25.9 million to the Provincial Government of Northern Samar.
Secretary Gatchalian assisted President Marcos in the ceremonial distribution of Php10,000 each to select 10 beneficiaries from the Provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The DSWD targets to provide Php10,000 each to 8,930 beneficiaries from the three Samar provinces, which are among the poorest provinces in the country.
“Alam nyo po kung minsan ang tingin ng tao sa DSWD ay pang bagyo lang tsaka pang kalamidad, pang lindol o pang baha. Pero ang katotohanan, kahit na, halimbawa kagaya ngayon, ang ating mga farmer at mga mangingisda ay in a crisis situation at nahihirapan ay nandiyan din ang DSWD para makatulong,” the President said.
After the aid distribution in Samar Island, the Presidential team headed to the Municipality of Palo in Leyte for a similar activity.
Presidential assistance amounting to Php17 million was provided to the Provincial Government of Leyte; Php13.6 million to the Provincial Government of Biliran; and Php10.3 million to the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte.
In his message, President Marcos emphasized that El Niño-stricken farmers and fisherfolk are in the same situation as individuals affected by other calamities, stressing that they are both in crisis situations.
“Ang DSWD naman ay mamamahagi ng Php10,000 para sa 1,500 benepisyaryo mula sa inyong tatlong lalawigan,” the Chief Executive said.
The DSWD’s assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and their families in the region was through the agency’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), a social protection program that provides cash aid to individuals who may not have access to regular forms of assistance because they do not belong to the poorest population.
Government agencies that also extended other forms of assistance to the identified beneficiaries include the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
Other top government officials present during the distribution of assistance in Samar and Leyte included DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. (Press Release/Ms. Myla Monsod)
