By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday (12 July 2024) joined the team of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr in an aid-giving activity for farmers and fisherfolk from Baler town in Aurora province and in San Fernando City in Pampanga.

Priority recipients of government aid were those severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon in line with the directive of Marcos Jr. to bring government programs and services closer to the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

“Minsan may pagkakataon na may mangangailangan ng tulong sa gobyerno, alam naman namin na tinantangkilik niyo ang aming tanggapan. Pero kakaiba ang araw na ito dahil inutusan kami ng ating pangulo na hindi kayo ang lalapit sa aming mga tanggapan kundi  kami ang pupunta sa inyo upang magbigay ng tulong,”  Gatchalian said at the Senator Edgardo Angara Convention Center in Baler shortly before the handing out of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFF).

As one of the agencies that brought the much-needed aid to the farmers and fisherfolk in Aurora province, the DSWD distributed Php10,000 to each of the 10,000 beneficiaries of the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP).

The President turned over farm machinery to local farmers to boost agricultural efficiency in Aurora.

He also handed over Php10,000 each to 10 selected beneficiaries from the province.

Marcos Jr. also extended Php10 million to the Provincial Government of Aurora to support local development projects to improve the quality of life of the residents and provided 5 kilograms of rice to each attendee of the aid-giving activity.

“Sa bawat umaga dito sa Aurora, bumubungad po ang araw sa kagandahan ng ating mga bukid at dagat, mga obra ng ating Maykapal na siya namang [nililinang] ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Subalit ang haring araw na nagpapayabong sa ating mga pananim, ay siya rin ang nagdala ng matinding pagsubok sa atin kamakailan lamang…. Kaya po kami nagpunta rito ngayon ay upang magbigay ng kaunting tulong sa ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at ang kanilang mga pamilya na labis na naapektuhan ng mga nagdaang [tagtuyot],” Marcos Jr. told the PAFF beneficiaries in Baler.

Following his visit to Aurora, the President led another distribution of various assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families affected by the El Niño crisis during a ceremony at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Office of the President (OP) has provided cash assistance of PhP10,000 each to select 60 beneficiaries from Region 3 (Central Luzon). Aside from cash aid, the President also distributed farming and fishing equipment, scholarship, training funds, and bags of rice.

Prior to this aid giving activity, the DSWD Field Office-3 (Central Luzon) and concerned local government units (LGUs) have already provided Php1.2 million in relief assistance to families affected by the dry spell in the region.

The President also extended monetary support amounting to around PhP105 million to the Provincial Governments of Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales.

Other government agencies that also brought their support services in a whole-of-nation approach to assist the El Nino-hit farmers and fisherfolk in the province were the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, among others.

(el Amigo/mnm)