President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured farmers and fisherfolk of Davao del Norte that the government will not abandon them amid the challenges brought by the El Niño phenomenon which affected their livelihood.
In his speech during the distribution of Presidential assistance at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City on Thursday, President Marcos said his administration is not turning a blind eye on their plight.
“Wala nang mas bibigat pa sa pakiramdam na masaksihan na unti-unting namamatay ang mga pananim o natutuyuan ang mga palaisdaan dahil sa matinding tag-araw.
Kaya po ay hindi po namin kayo pababayaan. Kayo po ang sandigan ng ating bayan sa pag-unlad kung kaya’t hindi kami titigil sa pag-agapay sa inyong lahat.
Makasisiguro po kayo na ang nasyonal at mga lokal government ay nagtutulong-tulong upang agarang maipaabot ang mga ayuda para sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at inyong mga pamilya,” he said.
President Marcos said the latest data showed that over 1,000 families from 16 barangays in Davao Region were greatly affected by El Niño with an estimated cost of damage at PhP50 million.
The President said all forms of assistance were prepared by the government to affected residents including rice assistance from the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the PhP15-million worth of 19,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
At least 10,000 beneficiaries from all provinces of Davao Region will also receive PhP10,000 each.
President Marcos said around PhP10 million worth of assistance will also be distributed in Davao del Norte, which include the units of rice combine harvesters, floating tillers, walk behind transplanters, and four-wheel tractors that will be distributed to Purok 4 Anibongan Carmen Irrigators Association.
Some goats were also provided to farmers along with fertilizers and other equipment under the Coconut Fertilization Project of the government.
For fisherfolk, President Marcos said the government also turned over 30 units of “FB Pagbabago Boats.”
He also ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to expand the supply of fish through the aquaculture production and planting of mangroves.
The President said the assistance is part of the PhP60 million intended to be distributed to all affected farmers and fisherfolk in Davao Region, which include the financial assistance and technical support from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
He said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have also provided funds for El Niño-hit farmers and fisherfolk.
“Ito na po ang ‘Bagong Pilipinas.’ Sa panahon ng tagtuyot at tag-ulan, kaagapay niyo kami sa pagbangon tungo sa mas maunlad na buhay,” President Marcos said.
“Sa inyong suporta, mga dasal at patuloy na pagkakaisa, matutupad nating lahat ang mga pangarap natin para sa Tagum, at magta-TAGUM-pay tayong maisulong ang malawakang pagbabago sa buong Mindanao at sa buong Pilipinas,” he added.
Before concluding his speech, President Marcos urged everyone to come together in realizing a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ that everyone deserves. |PND
