LUNA, Apayao (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of various assistance to the people of the Cordillera Region during his visit to the province of Apayao on Friday, July 19, 2024.
The President distributed P10,000 financial aid under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families (PAFFF) to 60 beneficiaries from the different provinces of the region during the ceremonial distribution held at the Bienvenido Verzola Jr. Memorial Sports Complex in the town of Luna.
“Narito po ako upang maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka, mangingisda, at inyong mga pamilya. Alam naman po natin, lahat ng maraming kabuhayan ang lubhang tinamaan ng El Niño noong mga nakaraang buwan at ilan sa mga naapektuhan ng matinding tagtuyot ay mga sakahan at palaisdaan,” the President said.
Close to 3,000 beneficiaries of the PAFFF thru the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program from Luna and Pudtol towns also received P10,000 each. Under the PAFFF, the government has allocated over PHP 260 million worth of assistance for the 27,185 individuals in the Cordillera region who were affected by the El Niño.
The President also turned over more than P300 million worth of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk under various programs of the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies.
The aid includes farm machineries, seedlings, subsidies, loans, and other interventions.
“Mga minamahal kong kababayan, asahan po ninyo na hindi tumitigil ang inyong pamahalaan upang ipatupad ang ating mga proyekto at programa na magsusulong ng mas maganda na buhay para sa ating magsasaka at mangingisda kung hindi ng lahat ng mamamayan ng Apayao at ng buong Cordilera,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos also provided financial assistance to the provincial government units in the region, with the provinces of Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province receiving P50 million each, P34.52 million for Abra, and P29.74 million for Benguet.
Also distributed were checks for the Local Government Support Fund of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to aid municipalities in delivering basic services; Shared Service Facilities for local industries for cacao, coffee and weaving under the Department of Trade and Industry; Cash assistance for the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) under the Department of Labor and Employment, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholarship fund, tool kits, 3-D printing machines and livelihood kits.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian assisted the President during the distribution.
The President appealed for continued support and unity among Filipinos to ensure that the goals and prosperity of the country will be achieved.
“Tanging hiling ko lamang ay magtulungan at magkaisa po tayo upang makamit natin ang ating magandang hangarin para sa isa’t isa. Asahan ninyo, nandito lang po at ang inyong pamahalaan na handang umagapay sa inyo sa lahat ng oras, anuman ang panahon, anuman ang problema, anuman ang pangangailangan ninyo. Kapit-bisig po nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa isang mas produktibo at masaganang bukas. Agbiag ti mannalon, agbiag ti manggalap, agbiag ti Bagong Pilipinas,” the President said.
Apayao Governor and Regional Development Council Chairperson Elias Bulut, Jr. expressed gratitude to the President for the timely support he personally delivered to the beneficiaries in the region.
“Sa ngalan ng peace-loving people ng Apayao, ng nagkakaisang Cordillera, at ng mga makatatanggap ng benepisyo mula sa inyong mahabaging tulong-pinansiyal, ipinabadatid namin ang aming lubos na pasasalamat sa suportang ito. Ang pagbisita ng ating Pangulo at mga gabinete ay nagpapakita ng kahalagahan at suporta ng ating pamahalaan sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa. Ito’y patunay na ang Apayao, na matatagpuan sa pinakasilangan ng ating bansa, ay bahagi rin ng pangkalahatang layunin na pag-unlad at pag-asenso para sa bawat Pilipino lalo na sa ating mga masisipag na mga magsasaka at mga dedikadong mangingisda,” Bulut said. (RMC PIA-CAR )
