File photo from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to City of Tagum, Davao del Norte
CALBAYOG CITY (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to arrive in Eastern Visayas on Thursday to lead the distribution of Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families (PAFFF) affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
At a media briefing on Wednesday in this city, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, spokesperson for Task Force El Niño, said the beneficiaries of the financial assistance will receive P10,000 each.
Villarama said that the purpose of the cash aid is to help them recover from the losses and damage incurred due to the long dry spell that hit the region in January and February this year.
The Department of Agriculture led the identification of the beneficiaries in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the local government units concerned, he added.
“Very stringent po ang process na ginagawa ng Department of Agriculture. Once they come up with the list, ‘yan po ang kukunin ng Office of the President, tapos ‘yun po ang magiging basis ng pagbibigay ng financial assistance,” Villarama said.
PAFFF has a minimum payout of P10 million and a maximum payout of P50 million for each province, depending on the extent of damage incurred.
Aside from Calbayog City, the President is also expected to visit Palo in Leyte to distribute the assistance.
All governors in the Eastern Visayas region are expected to be present during the distribution of the cash assistance.
A total of 10,138 validated beneficiaries will receive their assistance, distributed as follows: 368 in Biliran; 930 in Eastern Samar; 702 in Leyte; 1,599 in Northern Samar; 6,508 in Samar; and 31 in Southern Leyte.
On May 20, this year, President Marcos Jr. also led the distribution of over 5,000 land titles and over P500 million worth of support services projects to farmers in Eastern Visayas. (CBA, PIA, Eastern Visayas)
