President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday extended over P100 million in financial assistance to El Niño-hit farmers and fisherfolk in Central Visayas.
During the aid distribution in Bohol, Bohol acting Governor Victor Balite and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia received PhP50 million each from President Marcos.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided PhP10,000 each to 10,000 beneficiaries from Bohol and 10,000 beneficiaries from Cebu under the agency’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
Each of the attendees for the occasion also received five kilos of rice from the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives.
Government records showed that 48 local government units (LGUs) in Bohol were placed under a state of calamity as of June 25 due to El Niño, affecting 13,383 families.
They also indicated the government recorded PhP1.44 billion in agricultural losses, affecting 70,567 affected farmers and fisherfolk in Central Visayas.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) offered farm machineries, equipment, seeds and fertilizers, hauler and fiber glass boats, fishing paraphernalia, and loan programs.
Assistance from DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program were also provided to beneficiaries.
They also received training support fund and starter tool kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Livelihood toolkits were also distributed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) .
In his speech, President Marcos said the whole-of-government approach was needed to ensure “no Filipino will be left behind.”
Everyone will receive the necessary assistance from all government agencies, he said.
“Ang pamamahagi natin [ng] tulong ngayong araw na ito ay nakatuon sa mga magsasaka, at sa mangingisda, at siyempre sa kanilang mga pamilya,” President Marcos told thousands of farmers and fisherfolk.
“Kaya sana po ay makatulong ang mga programa ng gobyerno at ang dala naming ayuda upang tuluyan na kayong makabawi sa mga hamon na dinadaanan ninyo,” the chief executive added.
Meanwhile, President Marcos said the government is ready for La Niña, which is expected to hit parts of the country in the coming months.
The government allotted funds and prepared measures to help Filipinos deal with the challenges posed by the weather phenomenon, he said.
“Hindi namin titigilan at hindi [kami] titigil [sa] pagsisikap upang maibigay ang inyong mga pangangailangan,” the President said.
“Wala sawa kaming [magpapatupad] ng mga programang [makabubuti] po sa inyo, magsasagawa ng mga iba’t-ibang proyektong [makapagbibigay] ng ginhawa sa inyong buhay, at [mamumuhunan] para sa inyong kapakanan,” he added.
