President Marcos announced on Thursday, July 11, that the provinces of Cavite and Rizal will get a total of P26 million in aid for the farmers and fisherfolk hit by the El Niño phenomenon.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel during the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) program in Dasmarinas, Cavite on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (PPA Pool/ Marianne Bermudez)
He made the announcement during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families in Cavite at the City of Dasmariñas Arena.
Citing government data, the President said that more than 4,700 farmers and fishermen in the Calabarzon region were directly affected by El Niño.
“Kung [kaya’t] kami ay naririto upang magbigay ng tulong pinansyal at iba pang suporta sa mga naapektuhan [nating] mga magsasaka, na mga mangingisda, at kasama din po riyan ang kanilang mga pamilya (That’s why we are here to provide financial and other support for the affected farmers, fishermen, and their families),” he added.
Marcos, who called the farmers and fisherfolk the country’s modern-day heroes, shared that the Office of the President (OP) will be giving away P10,000 each to some farmers, fisherfolk, and their families from Cavite and Rizal.
“Ang kabuuang halaga ng tulong na ibabahagi namin ay mahigit labing dalawang milyong piso para sa mga benepisyaryo sa Cavite at lagpas naman sa labing apat na milyong piso para naman sa mga taga Rizal (The total amount of aid that we will be giving away is more than P12 million for beneficiaries in Cavite and more than P14 million for Rizal),” he stated.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will also provide seedlings, fertilizers, and machinery such as tractor, combine harvester, multi-tiller, rice thresher, hauling truck, and pump and engine set, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will give away motorized boats to fishermen.
The Chief Executive furthered that the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) will provide more than P2 million for 400 beneficiaries and more than P1 million for the 50 beneficiaries of its Integrated Livelihood Program in Cavite.
Likewise, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is also scheduled to provide more than P28 million worth of scholarships, P250,000 worth of starter kits, and P140,000 under its Training Support Fund.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will also be providing help under its programs—One Town One Product Next Gen Program, Coconut Farmers Industry Development Fund, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and Kapatid Mentor Me Program, among others.
Some 12,000 beneficiaries will also receive P10,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Marcos shared as well that House Speaker Martin Romualdez will distribute five kilos of rice to all event attendees.
The Chief Executive also said that recent infrastructure projects—LRT [Line] 1 Cavite Extension project, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway-Cavite Segment, and the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4, among others—will improve the economy of the region.
The President reminded the heroism that characterized Cavite province.
“Tandaan po natin na kung ang Cavite ay naging tahanan ng ating mga bayani at kalayaan noon, ito rin ang magiging duyan ng pag-asa at pag-unlad ng ating bansa sa hinaharap nating mga panahon (Let us remember that Cavite is the home of our heroes and independence, this is also the cradle of our hope and progress as a nation in the coming years),” Marcos said.
“Tinatawagan ko po [ang] lahat ng mga narito ngayon: Magtulungan po tayo. Sa sama-sama nating pagkilos para sa kaunlaran, isang Bagong Pilipinas ang ating makakamtan (I urged everyone here: let us help each other. In being united for our progress, we will reach the New Philippines),” he added.