Farmers in Lanao del Norte affected by El Niño receive P10,000 cash assistance each through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families program for their recovery amid challenging drought conditions. (Photo: ADD/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA) — A total of 1,392 farmers and fisherfolk from this province, who were hit hardest by the El Niño long dry spell in the previous months, received cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The Provincial Agriculture Office and Provincial Veterinary Office facilitated the distribution of the assistance that PBBM turned over to the beneficiaries during his visit to Iligan City on May 16.
Each beneficiary received P10,000 in cash. The support aimed to alleviate the economic losses endured by farmers and fisherfolk due to the prolonged drought.
During the distribution ceremony, Vice Gov. Allan Lim called on the beneficiaries to use the financial aid wisely and reminded them to invest the funds in their agricultural endeavors.
Beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude for the support they received as they struggled to recover from reduced crop yields and damage to their farms.
Among them was Jose Jimmy Agan from Tubod town, who has been farming rice and corn on his more than one-hectare land since he was a kid. With 11 children, he has faced challenges, especially during El Niño, when his fields lacked water, resulting in a meager harvest in March. He said he will use the cash assistance to buy fertilizer and other necessities for his farm.
Meanwhile, Aisa Ampaso from Bacolod town, who has been farming since childhood, lost many of her crops to pest infestations aggravated by the dry conditions.
“Maayo ning tabang, nalipay mi kay naa’y gihatag nga tabang sa amoa para sa mga na-damage nga among tanom. Gamiton namo sa among pamilya. Pasalamat mi kay Presidente kay naa siya’y tabang sa amoa nga mga mag-uuma. Nalipay gyud mi,” he said.
(This assistance is good; we are happy about it because our crops are damaged. We will use it for our family. We are thankful to the President because he provided help to us farmers. We are truly grateful.)
Diana Marie Codilla, a mother of two with another child on the way, shared that her husband works as a driver while the family is managing a small farm. They grow bananas and various crops, including okra and eggplant, but the El Niño severely affected their harvests.
The banana leaves wilted, the fruits stunted, and the okra and eggplants produced less than usual. The overall harvest was not as abundant as before. She expressed deep gratitude for the financial assistance, which she said will help them recover by buying fertilizer and farm inputs.
“Dako kaayo mi’g pasalamat sa iyang tabang, kaning gihatag karon kay makasugod na mi’g finance sa among uma, makapalit mi og abono aron maka-recover mi sa niagi nga El Niño. Dako kaayo ang tabang nga gihatag sa Presidente,” she said.
(We are very grateful for the assistance as it will help us start financing for the needs in our farm, buy fertilizer, and recover from the recent El Niño. The help provided by the President is a great relief.)
Also, Inocencio Calog has been farming since he finished high school. He has been planting rice on nearly a hectare of land. But the recent drought has impacted his farm’s productivity, and he faced challenges such as water scarcity and lower crop yields. He expressed his gratitude for the financial assistance he received and thanked the President for supporting those in need. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
