President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, accompanied by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and other Cabinet officials, continues to fulfill the vision of a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ in uplifting the lives and welfare of every Filipino by providing assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and their families who were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
In an aid giving activity at the Sulu Provincial Gymnasium in the Municipality of Patikul on Friday (July 5), President Marcos handed over cash assistance amounting to Php10,000 to select El Nino-stricken farmers and fisherfolk
in the province.
The Chief Executive also provided Php10 million in financial aid to the Provincial Government of Sulu for distribution to the remaining beneficiaries.
“Ikinalulugod ko na makasama kayo ngayong araw mula sa mga magsasaka na hindi alintana ang matinding sikat ng araw para sa masaganang ani, hanggang sa mga mangingisda na nakikipagsapalaran sa ating mga karagatan para maganda ang huli. Narito kami ngayon upang ihatid ang tulong ng pamahalaan, umagapay sa inyong pagbangon mula sa mga pagsubok na dala ng El Nino, at upang mapakinggan ang inyong mga suliranin,” President Marcos said in his message.
(I am pleased to be with you today, from the farmers who brave the scorching heat for a bountiful harvest, to the fishermen who venture into our oceans for a good catch. We are here today to deliver government assistance, support you in your recovery from the effects of El Nino, and to listen to your problems.)
In the same activity, DSWD Secretary Gatchalian led the distribution of Php10,000 cash assistance to more than 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the province under the agency’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“Sa ilalim naman ng Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), makatatanggap ang mahigit 5,000 magsasaka at mangingisda ng cash assistance na nasa Php10,000,” the President said.
(Under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), more than 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk will receive cash assistance of Php10,000 each.)
AKAP is a social protection program of the DSWD that provides cash aid to individuals who may not have access to regular forms of assistance because they do not belong to the poorest population.
Anchored on the President’s directive of whole-of-government approach in addressing the country’s challenges, the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) also extended other forms of assistance to identified beneficiaries.
Other top government officials present during the distribution of assistance in Sulu province were Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. #
