Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined the team of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr in an aid-giving activity on Friday (July 12) 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 the Chief Executive 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 tinatangkilik 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,” Secretary 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).
(There are times that you need help from the government and we know that you come to our offices. But today is different because the President has instructed us that we should be the ones bringing the services to you and not you coming to us for help).
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. President Marcos also handed over Php10,000 each to 10 selected beneficiaries from the province.
The Chief Executive 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 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 ,” President Marcos told the PAFF beneficiaries in Baler.
(Every morning here in Aurora, the sun rises in our farms and seas, truly the work of our God, Almighty, which our farmers and fishermen cultivate. However, it is the very sunlight which nourishes our plants that also brought a difficult challenge upon us. We are here today to bring a little help for our farmers, fishermen, and families affected by the dry spell.)
Following his visit to Aurora, President Marcos 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.#
