More than P600-million worth of agri-fishery projects were turned over to the farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) during the recent visit of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in the province of Negros Oriental and Bohol.

 

These interventions are in addition to the ceremonial distribution of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFF), which provide P 10,000.00 direct financial aid to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Nino phenomenon.

 

The President, together with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu-Laurel, Jr. and the Secretaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) were in Dumaguete City last June 27, 2024 to lead the PAFF distribution for both Negros Oriental and Siquijor. They also turned over some agri-fishery interventions worth P90,000,000.00 for Negros Oriental project beneficiaries, which include farm production inputs, machineries and equipment, fishing supplies and accessories, indemnity checks and loan assistance.

 

In an interview with one of the project beneficiaries of Negros Oriental, Rico Gante, the president of the Lumadnong Mag-uuma Tribu Bukidnon, he expressed gratitude for the tractor they received from the DA. “Daku kaayo ni og tabang namo sa among pagpanguma kay sauna ang among gamit kay kabaw, unya dugay kaayo mahuman among trabaho sa umahan ilabi na sa ting-init nga dili gyud makasarang ang daro, he said.

 

(This is a big help in our farm. Before, we are using carabaos to plow our field, and it took a while to finish our farming activities, most especially during summer)

 

PAFF distribution was also held in Tagbilaran City on June 28, 2024 with the province of Bohol and Cebu each receiving P50,000,000.00 from the President.

 

President Marcos and Secretary Tiu-Laurel led the turnover of agri-fishery projects amounting to P 559,125,308.00 from the DA-7, DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), DA-Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).