In commemoration of the 9th year of ST Yolanda, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. personally handed over cash assistance to rice farmers and informal sector workers and other agricultural interventions to farmer- beneficiaries. This was a collaboration of five government agencies who show utmost commitment in helping their respective stakeholders in Region 8.

 

“Hindi mabilis ang pagbabago kahit inaadjust natin ngayon, siguro mga ilang buwan pa bago makita yung effect. Sa palagay ko we are going in the right direction because on top of our priority list is the continuing assistance (Adapting to changes does not happen immediately despite our efforts now, perhaps it would take more months before we experience the effects. I honestly think where we are putting at the top of our priority list the continuing assistance.),” PBBM highlighted in his message.

 

The Department of Agriculture, being the lead agency of this said activity has distributed Five Thousand Pesos each to 400 farmers under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund- Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF RFFA), and two (2) units of disinfection trucks to the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and the Municipality of Allen, Northern Samar.

 

“Ang aming inaalala dahil tulad ng agrikultura kailangan tumaas ang production, sa mga negosyo kailangan magbukas ulit at magkaroon ng kita ulit ang ating mga mamamayan. Hanggang mangyari yun, kami po bilang gobyerno ninyo ay nandito upang tumulong at hindi kami aalis hanggang makita naming na kaya niyo na magsarili dahil yan po ang aming nagging prayoridad na umahon at pagandahin ang ekonomiya at dahan-dahan aabot din tayo diyan (Our priority is to increase the production of the agriculture sector, this will pave way to the opening of enterprises which will create income to our citizens. Until that vision happens, the government is always ready to deliver its services and we will not stop ‘til we see that our people can stand on their own as we slowly rebuild and improve the economy.),” he added.

 

Meanwhile, before the arrival of the President, RED Angel C. Enriquez expressed her gratefulness to the farmers for being a testament on what the government is really doing. “The farmers today are very blessed and lucky. I hope this is one way of showing to you what the government is right now and how the government is doing to provide everyone assistance,” she said.

 

In the morning, the Department of Agriculture spearheaded the SAAD SAGA 2022 after it was postponed for two years due to the pandemic. This is conducted to recognize outstanding farmer beneficiaries of the Special Area on Agricultural Development (SAAD) Project, and discuss the accomplishments during the implementation.

 

Other participating agencies were the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which led the distribution of financial assistance as other provisions under Assistance to Individuals in Situation (AICS) Program to farmers; the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) which turned over laptop computers through their Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development (Tech4ED) program; the Department of Health (DOH) which led the turnover of 20 ambulances to the local government units through their Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP); and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which paid out cash assistance to their beneficiaries under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/ Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).

 

PBBM exclaimed how the government is doing everything in order to help all the Filipino people in alleviating poverty. “Kaya’t ang utos ko sa ating mga Cabinet Secretary, sabi ko sa kanila kailangan patuloy lang ang ating pagtulong hanggang maramdaman natin na makakatayo na ang tao sa kanilang sariling paa (I ordered our cabinet members to continue helping our citizens until we see that they are able to stand on their own.),” he shared.###