GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed confidence in Region 12’s ability to overcome the effects of El Niño as he led the distribution of presidential assistance to local government units and affected farmers and fisherfolk in the region.
During his visit to General Santos City on May 10, the president commended the resilience and determination of the residents, particularly the local farmers and fishermen.
“Sa ating pagkakaisa, tiyak ako na makakabangon tayo kahit anumang unos ang ating kaharapin. Dahil kilala natin ang ugali ng Pilipino, na matatag at pagiging maabilidad,” Marcos told the crowd of over 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and their families, who were the beneficiaries of the presidential assistance held at the Lagao gymnasium.
(With our unity, I am certain we will rise again, no matter what storms or challenges we face. We know the Filipino spirit is resilient and resourceful.)
The president also encouraged farmers to combine hard work with adaptability and embrace new technologies to increase their yields.
“Hindi lang sipag ang inyong taglay, idagdag niyo na rin ang diskarte at ang bukas na pagyakap sa mga bagong pamamaraan ng teknolohiya na pagpataas ng inyong ani. Kaya dapat lang, alalayan kayo sa inyong bukal na layunin na paunlarin hindi lamang ang inyong mga pamilya, pero higit sa lahat, ang inyong pamayanan,” Marcos Jr. pointed out.
(Hard work is not the only thing you should possess; you must also have a strategy and embrace new technological methods to increase your yield. It is just right to support your innate goal to uplift not only the lives of your families but, above all, your communities.)
The president also made it clear to the beneficiaries that the financial aid they received was a component of the government’s ongoing initiative to ensure that those who needed it most received it.
On top of the presidential assistance, the DSWD also distributed a total of P100 million to distressed farmers, fisherfolk, or their family members under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
Gina Abellana, a 62-year-old sari-sari store owner from Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City, expressed immense gratitude for the P10,000 aid she received from the DSWD.
“Syempre pambili ng bigas. Malaking tulong talaga ‘yan. Lalo na ‘yung bayaw ko nasa ospital. Solb na solb talaga,” Abellana said.
(Of course, we will use that to buy rice. It’s really a big help, especially since my brother-in-law is in the hospital. It’s a huge relief.)
She also highlighted the importance of the assistance for her family’s survival, especially given her husband’s unstable income as a tricycle driver, made worse by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
“Grabe sobrang init. Basta dili makaya ang init. Tapos ang hanapbuhay, naapektuhan. Ang akong bana driver sa tricycle. Kung hindi naman sya mag-drive, magtrabaho-trabaho kahit saan,” Abellana conveyed.
(The heat is unbearable. This, in turn, impacts our means of livelihood. My husband drives a tricycle. If he doesn’t drive, he looks for other odd jobs whenever he can.)
Abellana lauded the government, through the DSWD, for helping many people and hoped for continued assistance as the rainy season approaches.
“Ang galing, super. Maraming natulungan ang DSWD. Sana marami pang matulungan kasi may darating pa na tag-ulan,” she added.
(DSWD did great! The agency has assisted countless people. I hope they continue to extend help, especially this upcoming rainy season.)
Joining Abellana in acknowledging the significance of government aid is Yee San Galngan, a 32-year-old farmer from Barangay Conel, General Santos City.
Galngan, one of the 10,000 recipients of cash aid, emphasized how crucial this support was for the people of GenSan to cope with the challenging circumstances.
“Dili gyud lalim ang usa ka farmer labi na karon nga tag-init, and then tanan pananom namo gikan sa saging, mais, tanan patay. Murag nidagan na siyag tatlo ka bulan nga ingon-ani,” Galngan said.
(Being a farmer is extremely challenging, particularly during the dry season when all our crops, including bananas and corn, are dead. It’s been like this for three months already.)
He shared that his family has resorted to eating root crops like cassava and sweet potatoes, with rice porridge at night, to survive, describing the 5 kilos of rice assistance from the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez and the P10,000 government aid as a lifeline for them.
“Gawas nga nakadawat ko aning bugas, kay actually syempre kay sobra ka krisis, gautang-utang gyud mi, sa kapit-os,” Galngan explained.
(Aside from rice, we’ve had to borrow money out of desperation due to the crisis.)
He said that he plans to use the money for his elderly mother’s medicine and to buy rice to help them mitigate the effects of El Niño. Galngan, who lives with his widowed mother, a sibling, and a nephew, expressed hope for continued government support.
“Ang akong masulti, dako kaayo mig kalipay, nakadawat mi mga farmers. This is the first time, sa mga nilabay na nga mga administrasyon karon lang mi nakadawat kaming mga farmer,” he expressed.
(We are very happy to receive this assistance. This is the first time we’ve received something like this in years.)
Galngan expressed his gratitude to the government, particularly to the president, for personally visiting General Santos City and leading the distribution of aid to farmers, fisherfolk, and their families.
“Sa kay president, salamat kaayo nga dako kaayo nig tabang sa mga pobre. Actually, wala gyuy dato diri sa amoa, tanan mi pobre. Kay ginasaliksik gyud ni nila. Wala niingon nga ‘o ikaw ikaw ikaw’ giadtuan gyud nila sa mga balay-balay, nga kung kinsa gyud to ang tabangonon mao gyud toy naa diri karon. So dako kaayo mig pasalamat kay Presidente Bongbong Marcos, kay usa ko sa napili ug usa pud ko sa nakuha.”
(To the president, thank you very much for helping the poor. Actually, there are no wealthy people here; we’re all poor. They really ensured that the poor would receive assistance. So we’re very thankful to President Bongbong Marcos, because I was one of the recipients.)
General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo-Pacquaio also commended the president for his support of the farmers and fisherfolk in the city, emphasizing the president’s commitment to good governance and helping all sectors in need.
“Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman ang hamong kinahaharap ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda dulot ng matinding init sanhi ng El Niño na nakaapekto hindi lamang sa ating minamahal na lungsod, maging sa buong Pilipinas. Kaya ang hakbang na ito ay malaking tulong upang makabawi ang ating mga bayaning nagsusumikap upang ang bawat Pilipino ay may makain sa hapag kainan,” Pacquiao emphasized.
(We are aware of the challenges our farmers and fishermen face due to the severe heat caused by El Niño, which has affected not only our beloved city but also the entire Philippines. Therefore, this step is a big help in assisting our farmers—our heroes—who are working hard to ensure every Filipino has food on the table.) (HJPF – PIA SarGen)
