By Che Palicte | Philippine News Agency
Davao Region provinces received close to P60 million cash assistance on Thursday under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) program to help Dabaonons affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of P10 million to the beneficiaries in Davao del Norte, P10 million to Davao de Oro, and P10 million to Davao Oriental, as well as P19.52 million to Davao del Sur, and P10 million to Davao Occidental in Digos City.
Aside from individual checks, Marcos also personally distributed P19.5 million to the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur and P10 million to the Provincial Government of Davao Occidental on the same day.
“Some 10,000 beneficiaries from all provinces of Davao Region will also receive P10,000 each. Here in Davao del Norte, about P10 million worth of assistance for the farmers and fisherfolk will be distributed,” Marcos said during the distribution activity.
Marcos assured farmers and fisherfolk the government will not abandon them amid the challenges brought by the El Niño phenomenon, which affected their livelihoods.
Government data showed that over 1,000 families from 16 barangays in the region were greatly affected by El Niño, with an estimated damage cost of P50 million.
The President said the government aid includes rice assistance from the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the P15 million worth of 19,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Jose Maria Villarama II, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary for Radio, said this is the fourth time the President visited Mindanao to distribute assistance.
“During the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, our President was very concerned about the welfare of our fishermen and farmers. He figured out that his office could help through the PAFFF, and that’s when the program started,” Villarama said, adding that the Department of Agriculture identified the beneficiaries.
“The regional field offices validated and assisted the affected farmers and fisherfolk. It is easy to identify them because they are provinces that have already declared a state of calamity,” he said.
In an interview on the sidelines, Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Gonzaga said the P10 million aid will be directly given to the farmers and fisherfolk.
“There will be a deed of donation, and we will wait for the authority from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for us to sign and accomplish. After that, all systems go to the distribution,” she said.