Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and other Cabinet officials to distribute assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and their families who were affected by the El Niño phenomenon on Thursday (July 11), this time in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Region.
“Pag gumawa po kami ng programa, may proyekto po kami, hindi isang departamento lamang ang nagtatrabaho para doon sa programang ‘yan. Lahat ng departamento na makatulong ay isinasama na rin namin. Ibig sabihin whole-of-government approach, ‘yung buong pamahalaan ay nasa likod ng bawat programa ng pamahalaan para maging matagumpay ang ating mga proyekto at ang ating mga programa,” President Marcos told the beneficiaries of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFP) in Dasmariñas City, Cavite which was the team’s second stop after San Jose in Batangas province.
(When we create a program, we have a project, it is not just one department that is working for that program. We also include all other departments that can help. It means whole-of government approach, the whole government is behind every government program to make our projects and our programs successful.)
Several kinds of aid were given by President Marcos to the farmers and fisherfolk, including various seeds, fertilizers, farming equipment, fishing boats, carabaos, and direct livelihood assistance.
In San Jose, Batangas, the DSWD provided more than Php4 million worth of assistance to 2,300 beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP); Php10,000 each to 10,000 beneficiaries of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), and to the 10,000 beneficiaries of the PAFFF event in the city.
In Dasmarinas City in Cavite, the DSWD provided Php10,000 each to 12,000 beneficiaries of the AKAP.
Other top government officials present during the distribution of assistance were Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto; Senators Francis Tolentino and Ramon Revilla Jr., and local officials from the five provinces of Calabarzon Region. #
