President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. personally awarded the 20-footer fishing boats, post-harvest kits, cash assistance, and various farm machinery to beneficiaries from the Provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo held at Binirayan Gym, San Jose, Antique. While the turnover of the aid to the beneficiaries of the Province of Negros Occidental was held in Bacolod City.
The cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) Program came after the Php2.9 billion reported loss in the agriculture sector and Php49 million damages in the fisheries sector due to El Niño.
“Batid namin na kailangan ninyo ng sandigan at kaagapay upang mapagtagumpayan ang mga pagsubok na kaakibat ng El Niño,” President Marcos said in his message in San Jose, Antique.
To assist the fisherfolk, DA-BFAR 6, headed by Regional Director Remia A. Aparri, distributed more than Php1.5 million worth of Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Boats, marine engines, and underwater accessories, HDPE fish containers, chilling tacks, weighing scales, and banyera for 53 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental and 94 beneficiaries in Antique.
The President also led the ceremonial distribution of PhP10,000 cash aid to select 10 beneficiaries from each of the six provinces in the region. Meanwhile, 61, 171 beneficiaries were identified to receive various assistance from the Department of Agriculture and its line agencies, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) among others.
Governor Rhodora Cadiao of Antique thanked the President for choosing Antique to be one of the two venues in the Region 6 leg of the PAFFF saying: “Hindi pa nakaranas and probinsiya ng Antique ng tatlong sunod-sunod na pagbisita ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas.”
To further cushion the effects of El Niño in the past couple of months, the Provincial Governments of Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Negros Occidental received Php50 million each, while Php28,410,000 was handed over to the Provincial Government of Guimaras, and P10 million to the City Government of Bacolod. ###
