President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the distribution of relief and recovery assistance to individuals affected by Super Typhoon “Nando” in Cagayan province, prioritizing support for farmers who are crucial to the region’s agricultural production.
The aid distribution took place at the Gonzaga People’s Gymnasium, with a total of 2,533 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Gonzaga and Sta. Ana in Cagayan.
Each beneficiary received P10,000 in financial aid and a family food pack containing six kilograms of rice, canned goods, chocolate drink, and instant coffee.
“We are here to extend help to our farmers hit by tropical cyclone Nando. We saw for ourselves how Cagayan is one of the hardest hit areas,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino during his speech.
He expressed the government’s readiness to assist farmers in their recovery efforts, particularly in providing for their livelihood.
The President also stressed the importance of reforming the agricultural system to better withstand changing weather patterns: “We need to identify and understand what we need to do for the system of our weather prediction, of PAGASA, all of this to improve our response.”
Marcos was joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon during the distribution of various assistance.
