THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun releasing emergency cash assistance to farmers grappling with the effects of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, officials confirmed Sunday.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao reported that distribution is underway in Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region, where prolonged dry spells have damaged crops and disrupted livelihoods. In Region 2 alone, more than ₱141 million worth of support — covering both emergency cash transfers and family food packs — has already been delivered to corn and rice farmers in Isabela and Cagayan.
In Camarines Norte, financial aid totaling over ₱31 million has been distributed in the municipalities of Capalonga and Paracale to help those whose harvests have been wiped out by drought.
Dumlao noted that many farmers have become discouraged and stopped planting entirely, fearing their efforts would go to waste without reliable rainfall. The cash assistance is intended to provide immediate relief while longer‑term measures are put in place. Across six affected regions — Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga — over 191,000 families have been identified as needing support, with total aid distributed so far surpassing ₱189 million.
Complementing the DSWD response, the Department of Agriculture is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment to provide temporary jobs through the TUPAD program for farmers displaced by the drought. The DA has also proposed a ₱61.99‑billion comprehensive action plan to safeguard food security and livelihoods as El Niño is forecast to persist into the first half of next year. The DSWD assured the public that assistance will continue to be rolled out to additional communities as needs are assessed.
metrosundaily
