Fulfilling the government’s commitment to provide relief to communities affected by the dry spell, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the distribution of various assistance, including over PHP190 million cash aid, to El Niño-affected communities in the Cagayan Valley Region.
In his speech during the distribution of assistance in Ilagan City, Isabela, Marcos honored the farmers and fisherfolk for their hard work which, he said, is crucial to the country’s overall food security.
He assured them of continued government interventions to help improve their productivity, including infrastructure projects such as irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, and post-harvest facilities
“Pagtitibayin din namin ang mga paraan upang mas mapataba ang ating mga lupa, maging mas dekalidad ang ating mga ani, at mas matalino ang paggamit ng ating yamang tubig (We will also strengthen ways to make our soil more fertile, produce quality crops, and more prudent use of our water resources),” the President said.
“Ipatutupad din natin ang mas makabagong pamamaraan sa agrikultura sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag na science-based at climate resilient farming technologies at pagbibigay ng karagdagang training nang sa ganun ay lumawak pa ang kaalaman at abilidad ng ating mga magsasaka (We will also implement modern methods in agriculture through science-based and climate resilient farming technologies and by providing additional training to enhance the knowledge and abilities of our farmers),” he said.
During the ceremony, Marcos handed out PHP10,000 to 10 select beneficiaries from the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
He also provided PHP50 million each to the provincial governments of Isabela, Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya; PHP10 million to the provincial government of Batanes, and PHP30.92 million to the provincial government of Quirino.
Other government agencies also provided various assistance including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. (PNA)