PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday assured Davaoeños that the national government would not abandon them amid the challenges caused by the El Niño phenomenon as he led the distribution of more than P60 million worth of assistance to local governments, farmers, fisherfolks and families affected by extreme dry spell.
The President said he visited the region to personally check the situation of the residents and show them that the national government is not abandoning them.
“Hinding-hindi hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Ang pamahalaan ay laging handang [umalalay] at magbigay ng tulong, lalo na sa panahon ng kagipitan (We will never forsake you. The government is always ready to help and provide you with assistance, especially in times of emergency),” Marcos said in a speech in Tagum City.
The President visited Tagum City in the morning and Digos City in the afternoon and distributed P10 million each to the local governments of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental; P19.52 million to Davao del Sur, and P10 million to Davao Occidental.
The national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), also distributed P10,000 each to 10,000 farmers and fisherfolks in each of the provinces of Davao del Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.
The DSWD likewise gave 19,000 food packs worth P15 million, while the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez provided rice assistance.
On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed 30 22-footer fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) boats under its FB Pagbabago program, two units each of rice combine harvester, four-wheel tractor, floating tillers, four walk behind transplanters, dairy goats and equipment, open pollinated variety coconut seedlings, inorganic fertilizers, and coconut planting materials and fertilizers to farmers and fisherfolk in Davao del Norte.
A bio-secure climate-controlled swine facility-finisher type, two 21-footer FRP boats, and five sets of fishing gears with multiple handlines were also distributed in Davao de Oro, a mechanical corn husker-sheller in Davao Occidental; and a hybrid rice seeding processing facility, two units of farm tractor with implements and hauling truck (elf and winged van), one seed cleaner, and three mechanical corn husker-shellers in Davao del Sur.
For its part, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) distributed P2.26 million worth of assistance to 292 DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program beneficiaries, and P2.93 million worth of assistance to 621 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries in Davao del Sur.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided P56,560, or P2,320 each, worth of allowance to 25 trainees of organic agriculture production, and tool kits for raising organic hogs and small ruminants under the Special Training for Employment Program; while the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provided P3.57 million worth of coconut seedlings and fertilizer under the Coconut Hybridization Project for coconut farmers of Davao del Sur.
During his visit, the President ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to expand the region’s supply of fish through aquaculture production and planting of mangroves.
The President said the DA is now studying programs and projects that will improve the irrigation system in the country to pave the way for the use of alternate wetting and drying technology.
