TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would bring good news to nearly 10,000 farmers, fisherfolks, and their families affected by the long dry spell, national government agencies with packages of assistance would also turn over to their beneficiaries a total of P7M worth of cash aid and kits.
Around 10,000 Boholano beneficiaries will gather at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex to witness the ceremonial turn-over of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisher folk and their Families (PAFFF) to 10 selected farmers and fisherfolks from Bohol and another 10 from Cebu.
Prior to the distribution, top officials with the President would check on the ongoing government assistance programs to individuals, communities and people’s organizations implemented by national government agencies.
In Bohol, at least four government agencies would be there to add more joy to the Boholanos in crisis.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director Vierna Teresa Chiu-Ligan said they selected nine beneficiaries from Bohol’s rebel returnees who will get 25 kilos of rice each and vouchers for P8,000, which are converted to actual grocery packs, all with a total value of P9,250 each.
This alone would total to P83,250 for the morning ceremonial turn-over.
The 10 beneficiaries are part of the 78 more families who have returned to the folds of the law and qualified for the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) kits.
For the 78 more families, this would cost the government some P721,500.
Ligan said additional funds are coming, so the department can extend the PPG to more Boholano families.
DTI is set to get P1.2M more for this project until December, she said.
Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will distribute P627,816 in training assistance and support funds to 20 beneficiaries of Organic Agriculture National Certification II.
Another 20 beneficiaries would also get starter toolkits for Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II at P15,000 each or P300,000.
All in all, TESDA would be handing over some P127,816, said TESDA Bohol provincial director Carlito Quintano.
As to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), labor and employment officer Maria Eloida Cantona said they will turn over some P4,193,934 in livelihood grants to four people’s organizations and TUPAD assistance to two more groups of workers.
Cash assistance will be turned over to representatives from the Pagsa Multi-purpose Cooperative of Dimiao which will receive a total of P911,760 for their Lomboy and Bugnay Wine Processing and Alburquerque Calamay makers-Tagbilaran Port Vendors Association of Tagbilaran City which will receive P999,848 for their Calamay Production and Marketing.
Beneficiaries representing the Kapunungan sa Mag-asinay sa Alburquerque in East Poblacion Alburquerque Bohol which got P99,990 for their salt-making (Rock Salt) Asin Tibuok and the parents of child laborers of Catigbian, Bohol organized as Parent Workers Association sa Causwagan Norte which got P366,496 would also receive their cash during the ceremonial turn-over.
For its banner Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantages and Displaced (TUPAD) workers Program, Cantona said they are handing out the cash assistance as part of the salaries of the 14 displaced workers of Captain’s Peak in Sagbayan and 10 more beneficiaries representing the salaries of the 360 beneficiaries of the LGU Balilihan Disadvantaged workers. (RAHC/PIA Bohol)
