TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA) — A total of 1,392 farmers and fisherfolk from this province who were hit hardest by the El Niño in the previous months received cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
The Provincial Agriculture Office and Provincial Veterinary Office facilitated the distribution of the assistance, which was turned over by PBBM during his visit to Iligan City on May 16. Each beneficiary received P10,000 in cash. The support aimed to alleviate the economic losses suffered by farmers and fisherfolk due to the prolonged drought.
During the distribution ceremony, Vice Gov. Allan Lim called on the beneficiaries to utilize 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 over one-hectare land since he was young. With 11 children, he has faced challenges, especially during El Niño, when his fields had no water that resulted 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 worsened 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 because help was given to us for the damage to our crops. 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 they also manage a small farm. They grow bananas and various crops like okra and eggplant, but the El Niño severely affected their harvests.
The banana leaves were torn, the fruits were small, and the okra and eggplants produced less than usual. Despite some harvesting, it was not as abundant as before. She expressed deep gratitude for the financial assistance, which 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 given to us now, as it will help us start financing for the needs in our farm, buy fertilizer, and recover from the past El Niño. The help provided by the President is a great relief.)
Moreover, Inocencio Calog has been farming since graduating high school. He has been cultivating rice on about a hectare of land. However, the drought impacted his farming productivity, and he faced challenges such as reduced water availability 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)
