PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally extended close to PhP60 million in financial assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) to help Filipinos affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Davao Region.
In two-separate PAFF distribution events, President Marcos distributed PhP10 million each to the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental in Tagum City, PhP19.52 million to Davao del Sur, and PhP10 million to Davao Occidental in Digos City.
“Kaya naman minabuti naming pumarito ngayon upang ipaalam sa inyo na hinding hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Ang pamahalaan ay laging handang [umalalay] at magbigay ng tulong, lalo na sa panahon ng kagipitan,” President Marcos said in his speech in Tagum City.
There has been no declaration of state of calamity in the Davao Region since the onset of El Niño, which affected around 1,391 families or 4,173 individuals in 16 barangays in the region as of this month.
But around PhP49.58 million worth of agricultural losses have been reported with 1,344 famers and fisherfolk affected by the phenomenon.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided PhP10,000 in financial assistance to 10,000 target beneficiaries in each province of Davao del Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.
The same beneficiaries received rice assistance from the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
President Marcos said the Department of Agriculture (DA) also handed over 30 22-footer FB Pagbabago Boats and two units each of rice combine harvester, four-wheel tractor and floating tillers to farmers and fisherfolk in Davao del Norte.
Also, provided to Davao del Norte were four walk behind transplanters; dairy goats and equipment; open pollinated variety coconut seedlings; inorganic fertilizers; and coconut fertilization project and coconut planting materials and fertilizers.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed a bio-secure climate-controlled swine facility-finisher type in Davao de Oro along with two of 21-footer FRP boats and five sets of fishing gears with multiple handlines. A mechanical corn husker-sheller was given to Davao Occidental.
A Hybrid Rice Seeding Processing Facility was also handed over by the DA in Davao del Sur under its Rice Program Fiscal Year 2023, which includes a warehouse and four recirculating dryers, and one combine harvester.
Two units each of farm tractor with implements and hauling truck (elf and winged van) were distributed by the DA in Davao del Sur along with one seed cleaner, and three mechanical corn husker-shellers under the Corn Program FY 2023.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also distributed PhP2.26 million worth of assistance to 292 DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program beneficiaries, and PhP2.93 million worth of assistance to 621 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries in Davao del Sur.
President Marcos said the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided PhP56,560 or PhP2,320 each worth of allowance to 25 trainees of organic agriculture production, and toolkits for raising organic hogs and small ruminants under the Special Training for Employment Program.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provided PhP3.57 million worth of coconut seedlings and fertilizer under the Coconut Hybridization Project for coconut farmers of Davao del Sur.
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