MORE than P1.2 billion worth of assistance were extended yesterday by the national government to those affected by the El Niño in the Mimaropa region.
President Marcos Jr. led the distribution of P952.660 million in financial assistance, services, loan assistance, and subsidies to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño in Palawan and Marinduque during his visit to Puerto Princesa, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the distribution of P262.453 worth of aid in Odiongan in Romblon.
The President skipped the event in Romblon due to bad weather.
Marcos, in his speech in Puerto Princesa, said: “Nauna sila sa Romblon, dapat susunod ako ngunit umulan kaya’t hindi na ako makapasok kaya’t nagpo-programa rin sila ng ganito rin sa Romblon naman (They first went to Romblon. I am supposed to follow them, but the rains prevented me from going there. They are having a similar program in Romblon),” he said.
In Palawan, the President recognized its contribution not just to the country’s tourism industry but also in food security, noting its production of palay, corn, coconut, cashew, banana and calamansi.
Marcos also handed to local government officials a total of P99.13 million in financial aids – P50 million to Palawan, P10 million to Puerto Princesa, and P39.13 million to Marinduque.
He also witnessed the distribution of cash aid from different departments, including P60.43 million under the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program, or P 10,000 each to 6,043 beneficiaries; P50 million under DA’s Agriculture Credit Policy Council for the Survival and Recovery Program (P20 million) and Agri-Negosyo Loan Program (P30 million).
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) handed P8.4 million for the operations and maintenance subsidy of different irrigator’s association,
P533.66 million worth of certificates of condonation and exemption for landowners, and P201 million for farmers’ irrigation programs in Papualan, Sumbiling, Timburan, Bagong Bayan, and Apurawan.
Five kilos of rice from the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez were also distributed to the event’s attendees in Puerto Princesa, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) distributed five motorized bancas, three ferry boats, and two units of fish cages for fisherfolk affected by El Niño.
The President said the government is also providing training for farmers under the Agricultural Training Institute of DA, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) distributed starter toolkits and checks under its Training Support Fund.
Marcos said the DILG has also allotted a budget to support the local government units (LGUs) of Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay, Cagayancillo and Aracelli; provide aid and support to rebel returnees; and death benefit assistance.
He said the national government has also allotted P140 million in standby funds and stockpile of food packs and non-food other relief items to Mimaropa region in anticipation of the La Niña phenomenon.
He said the amount of P5 million is for standby funds, P102.77 million for food packs, and P 32.34 million for non-food items.
Weather forecasts said Palawan and Romblon are expected to experience below normal rainfall levels in July, while the rest of the region are expected to experience near normal rainfall from August to September, and above normal level by October.
In Romblon, Abalos, Tiu and Gatchalian led the distribution of aid to Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro.
The Office of the President released P116.64 million in financial aid to local government units of Romblon (P16.64 million), Occidental Mindoro (P50 million), and Oriental Mindoro (P50 million); while the DA handed P3 million under its African Swine Fever indemnification program, P10 million under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and P5 million under DA’s Agri-Negosyo Loan Program; and P1.039 million from NIA’s Operation and Maintenance Subsidy for irrigators associations. DA also committed to construct P26 million-worth of irrigation systems in Danao Sur, Dubduban, Gabawan and Taboboan-Tula.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided P774,537 in financial assistance under its Integrated Livelihood Program, while DSWD distributed P100 million or P10,000 each to 1,000 beneficiaries in Romblon.
Also distributed in Romblon were five kilos of rice from the Office of the Speaker, 120 sacks of yellow corn seed, 360 bottles of organic foliar fertilizer, fertilizer discount voucher, farming equipment from DA; 2,200 sacks of Agricultural Grade Salt Fertilizers from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), composting facility for biodegradable waste from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, financial assistance for the construction of the Farmers Information and Technology Services from the Agricultural Training Institute, 45 starter tool kits and conduct of the Special Training for Employment Program from TESDA; and two induction cookers, around 28 gill nets, three payaos, three food processing equipment, two boat repair materials, and three fiberglass reinforced boats from BFAR.
The President said the Department of Health (DOH) is also closely coordinating with the LGU for the modernization of healthcare facilities and hiring of more medical professionals, specialists and other healthcare workers in Romblon.
Marcos said the DOH and local government officials are collaborating to hire more medical professionals, specialists and healthcare workers while P2.37 million has been released to Mimaropa for the medical, nursing, dental and nutrition services for learners, teaching and non-teaching staff from seven school divisions in the region.
He said the Super Health Center program was turned over to the region in April, referring to the P846 million Health Facilities Enhancement Program which covers 134 health facility projects in the region.
