President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended on Thursday PhP158.15 million in financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) of Caraga as part of the administration’s support to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

The President personally handed over PhP12.48 million in financial assistance to Surigao del Sur; PhP50 million to Agusan del Sur; PhP46.84 million to Butuan City; PhP28.26 million to Agusan del Norte; PhP10.57 million to Surigao del Norte; and PhP10 million to Dinagat Islands.

President Marcos and some Cabinet members visited Surigao del Sur and Butuan City on Thursday to personally extend financial assistance to El Nino-hit farmers and fisherfolk.

“Katulad ninyo, nagsisikap ang pamahalaan upang lalo pang maging matatag ang Butuan bilang sentro ng kalakalan, industriya, at pamamahala dito sa Caraga,” President Marcos said in his speech during the distribution of aid in Butuan City on Thursday.

Butuan City was placed under state of calamity on June 13, 2024 due to El Niño, affecting around 3,694 farmers and fisherfolk and causing PhP699.54 million worth of agricultural losses.

The President also extended PhP10,000 cash assistance each for 9,195 beneficiaries in Surigao del Sur and 4,650 beneficiaries in Agusan del Norte and Butuan City. Each attendee received five kilos of rice from the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez

In Surigao del Sur, President Marcos led the distribution of farm machineries, equipment and credit assistance. Also extended were assistance from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), Tulong Panghanap-buhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and Government Internship Program (GIP).

Training allowance for Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) beneficiaries and livelihood starter tool kits were also provided by President Marcos during the event. |PND