President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday visited Iligan City, fulfilling his word to visit all regions in the country to hand over assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
“Kaya nga po ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay sinusuyod natin ang buong kapuluan upang maghatid ng tulong sa mga napinsala ng matinding tag-init at tagtuyot na nangyayari sa El Niño,” the President said in his speech at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City.
“Marami po tayong pupuntahan pa. Walang rehiyon ang makakalimutan sa pagbibigay ng tulong. Walang sektor ang makakaligtaan,” he added.
The President last week visited Zamboanga City, General Santos City, and Sultan Kudarat to lead the distribution of assistance to those affected by the dry spell.
The Chief Executive said his visits allow him to personally see the condition of the affected farmers and fisherfolk and to hear their concerns.
“Pwede ko naman po ihabilin sa aking mga kalihim ang pagdadala ng tulong. Pwede ko rin iatas sa iba ang paghahatid ng serbisyo. Ngunit kung gagawin ko iyon, hindi ko kayo makakasalamuha. Hindi ko makikita ang inyong tunay na kalagayan. Hindi ko maririnig ang inyong hinaing,” President Marcos said.
The President said he likewise wants to personally witness the development in Iligan and Lanao del Norte as a result of the hard work of their people.
“Napakalaki po ang bilib, paghanga, at respeto ko sa inyong lahat kaya naman minarapat ko na isama ang buong lakas ng pamahalaan sa aking pagdalaw sa inyong rehiyon,” he said.
During the event, Marcos led the distribution of presidential assistance worth P10,000 each to El Niño-affected farmers and fisherfolk.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also handed over P10,000 to each beneficiary.
The Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez distributed 5 kilos of rice to each attendee.
President Marcos also handed over P10.54 million to the City of Government of Iligan, P13.92 million to the provincial government of Lanao del Norte, and P24.36 million to the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental.
The President concluded his speech by expressing his administration’s resolve to assist Filipinos during the drought and the looming La Niña.
“Sa mga minamahal kong Pilipino, asahan po ninyo ang patuloy naming pag-iikot sa Mindanao at sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa upang masigurong maihahatid namin ang tulong at serbisyo sa taong-bayan. Narito po ang inyong pamahalaan sa lahat ng oras. Sa panahon ng tagtuyot at paparating na tag-ulan, handa po kaming umagapay sa inyong lahat,” he said. |PND
