By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed a whole-of-government approach in delivering assistance to Filipinos in need even those in far-flung areas to mitigate the effects of El Niño.
In a speech during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families affected by the dry spell in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), President Marcos said the government is exhausting all means to address the effects of the calamity.
“Sa lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na [naririto] — mula sa mga pinuno hanggang sa bawat empleyado — sisiguruhin po namin na makararating ang lahat ng tulong, programa, [at] oportunidad sa ating mga mamamayan, lalo na sa pinakamalayong lugar tulad ng Basilan, tulad ng Tawi-Tawi,” he added.
Marcos distributed over P20 million in financial aid in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan while more than P30 million were given in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also handed P10,000 cash assistance to 10,000 beneficiaries, while the Office of the House Speaker distributed five kilos of rice to each attendee.
Other government agencies including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Agriculture (DA) also brought frontline services as part of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. – avds
