ILOILO CITY – The Office of the President on Thursday released cash aid to more than 62,500 farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño climate phenomenon in Panay and Guimaras Islands.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of cash aid to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño climate phenomenon in San Jose de Buenavista town, Antique province on Thursday, June 27. (Uswag Ilonggo party-list)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led a ceremonial distribution in San Jose de Buenavista town, Antique province. Each beneficiary received P10,000 each under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).
Marcos said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) alone cannot shoulder the funding for farmers and fisherfolk impacted by El Niño.
Only those that were verified by DA, including its attached agency the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), were eligible to receive P10,000.
Iloilo province had the most number of beneficiaries with 30,362. There were also 11,841 beneficiaries in Guimaras province; 8,293 beneficiaries in Capiz province; 7,067 beneficiaries in Antique province, and 5,026 beneficiaries in Aklan province.
The President was assisted in the distribution by Secretaries Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. of DA, Rex Gatchalian of DSWD, and Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Governors Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, JC Rahman Nava of Guimaras, Fredenil “Oto” Castro of Capiz, Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao of Antique, and Joen Miraflores of Aklan were present.
Sen. Loren Legarda, Antique Rep. AA Legarda, and Rep. Jojo Ang of Uswag Ilonggo party-list, and Antique Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta were also present.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Television Dale de Vera said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also provided services.
A separate distribution was held for Negros Occidental province.