DAVAO CITY – Thousands of farmers, fishermen, and families affected by the El Niño phenomenon received cash assistance from President R. Marcos Jr. during a ceremony at the Datu Abdullah Sangki (DAS) Sports Complex in Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday, May 23.
MARCOS
The Office of the President (OP) provided P10,000 each to beneficiaries from three provinces within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), allocating P30 million to the governments of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.
Marcos arrived in Maguindanao del Sur following his visit to Tawi-Tawi.
The Chief Executive vowed a comprehensive government strategy to provide assistance to underprivileged Filipinos in remote regions of Mindanao.
During the allocation of financial assistance to farmers and fishermen impacted by El Niño in Tawi-Tawi, Marcos said in his speech that the entire government is utilizing all available resources to alleviate the effects of the climate phenomenon in the region.
“We will ensure that all assistance, government programs, and opportunities reach our citizens, especially in the remotest areas,” Marcos said.
Marcos granted P10 million each to the provincial government of Maguindanao del Sur represented by Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, Maguindanao del Norte represented by Gov. Abdulraof Macacua, and Lanao del Sur represented by Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. to fuel their recovery from the calamity.
In her message, Mangudadatu lauded Marcos' intervention to alleviate the situation of the distressed farmers and fisherfolk. She told the public that every zone, barangay, and municipality in Maguindanao del Sur has nothing to worry as the President is always there willing to help and support them in the name of the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P10,000 to each 10,000 beneficiaries while the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez gave five kilos of rice to each attendee.
In a report obtained from the DSWD, the Marcos administration has distributed P478,850,000 to 47,885 beneficiaries from Zamboanga, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City, Iligan City, and Cagayan de Oro City as of May 22.
Meanwhile, as part of the efforts to provide aid to beneficiaries, the Department of Agriculture-National Irrigation Administration (DA-NIA) consistently oversees the progress of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project II (MMIP-II) which aims to enhance agricultural output and livelihoods while also promoting peace and order in the region.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned government agencies are cooperating to tackle the difficulties presented by the El Niño and La Niña in the BARMM.