President Marcos assured farmers in Bohol that they will soon gain more help for their livelihood through a new irrigation project in the province.
During his visit in Tagbilaran City, Bohol for the distribution of government assistance on Friday, June 28, Marcos announced that the Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project will be completed soon.
"Ikinagagalak ko na ipabatid sa inyo na ang Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project ay malapit ng matapos (I am glad to announce that the Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project will soon be completed)," Marcos said in his speech.
He expressed hope that the soon-to-be-completed project will be able to supply water to over 500 hectares of farm within the two towns as they recover from the impacts of El Niño.
"Nawa ay mapapakinabangan na [nga] ito sa lalong madaling panahon, nang mabigyan ng sapat na patubig ang lampas na limang daang ektaryang sakahan sa bayan ng Mabini at ng Alicia (I hope that you will be able to take advantage of this as soon as possible in order to provide ample supply of water the more than 500 hectares of farms in the towns of Mabini and Alicia)," Marcos said.
The President further assured them that the government will continue to craft projects that would help them recover and improve their livelihood.
He also called on government agencies and local governments to ensure that the assistance they are bringing to different provinces would reach the beneficiaries.
"Tiyakin po natin na [makararating] sa lahat ng benepisyaryo ang tulong na inilalaan natin para sa kanila (Ensure that the assistances intended for the beneficiaries will reach them)," he told the local officials.
During his Bohol visit, Marcos handed over agri-fishery assistance packages, including farm machineries, fishing equipment, seeds and fertilizers as part of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) ongoing commitment to boost the agriculture sector amid challenges posed by the crisis.
Cash assistance worth P10,000 was also provided to 20 select beneficiaries from Bohol and Cebu, as well as P100 million in financial aid to the provincial governments.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also distributed cash assistance of P10,000 each to 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk under its Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program.