ILAGAN City–President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, June 10, led the distribution of P200 million in cash aid to Northern Luzon farmers, fishermen, and families affected by the El Niño drought.
In his remarks at the Community Center here, the President said the program was part of his administration’s comprehensive strategy to address the farming sector’s concerns with the El Niño phenomenon.
‘‘Today, we are offering additional assistance to our farmers, fishermen, and their families who are here with us. We aim to ease their difficulties because of the El Niño so that you can recover and recoup the bounty of your livelihoods,” the President said.
The Chief Executive handed P10 million to Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco, P50 million each to Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano III, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose Gambito, and P30.92 million to Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua.
Apart from delivering the financial assistance, Mr. Marcos also presided at the ceremonial presentation of presidential assistance worth P10,000 to ten beneficiaries.
The initiative is the government’s urgent response to individuals afflicted by the dry spell under President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas program.
Various forms of government assistance were likewise distributed. Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) oversaw the cash aid distribution, while the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez provided five kilos of rice each to 5,000 recipients.
The DSWD provided P10,000 in financial assistance to 5,000 Isabela participants under the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program to help low-wage earners affected by inflation.
TESDA allotted P42.26 million for the training allowance of 2,474 beneficiaries under RCEF.
The Department of Agriculture also provided 315 pumps and engine sets, as well as 1,000 bags of hybrid/inbred palay and corn seeds, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources delivered 19 non-motorized boat sets and 18 fishing gear/gillnet units.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization supplied agricultural equipment such as tractors, disc plows, levee builders, transplanters, reapers, harvesters, threshers, dryers, and rice mills.
Additionally, the Department of Labor and Employment granted P5.98 million in financial aid to 311 TUPAD beneficiaries.
Prior to the distribution, Marcos inaugurated the Cabaruan solar-powered pump irrigation project in the municipality of Quirino in Isabela.
The President also presided at the signing of an agreement between the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the San Ignacio Energy Resources Development Corporation (SIERDC) at the Isabela provincial capitol here.
He reassured the Cagayan Valley residents that the government will continue to provide aid, focused on helping farmers and fishermen improve their lives.
