BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – Senior citizens from Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, who were among the beneficiaries of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families (PAFFF) held in Tandag City, expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his visit and various assistance provided to them.
Linda Calida, a 63-year-old farmer from Barangay Poblacion, Bislig City, in Surigao del Sur, expressed her gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as well as to the local officials who made it possible for them to receive the cash assistance and farm machinery and equipment from the different government agencies.
“Maski layo ang among gibiyahe gikan sa among lugar sa Bislig paingon diri sa Tandag, pero nalipay kami og dako kay sulit ra ang tanan. Malipayon kayo mi sa gihatag ni Pres. Marcos,” she said.
(Translation: Traveling from our city in Bislig may be quite far going here in Tandag City, but it’s all worth it. We are so happy to receive the assistance handed over to us by Pres. Marcos.)
“Nalipay ako kay isa ako sa nakadawat sa cash assistance gikan sa gobyerno. Makatabang n aini og dako sa among panginahanglanon,” shared Roman Ravelo, 76 years old, from Barangay Kinabigtasan, Tago, Surigao del Sur.
(Translation: I’m happy to be one of the recipients of the cash assistance from the government. This could already be of great help for my family to buy our necessities.)
Among the highlights of the event are the turnover of farm machinery, equipment, and other support services amounting to P6 million from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga to farmer cooperatives and associations in Surigao del Sur. These include a four-wheel-drive tractor, a multi-commodity thresher, a hauling truck, and a corn mill.
The President handed out P10,000 in cash assistance to 10 select beneficiaries from Surigao del Sur and another group of 10 beneficiaries from Agusan del Sur as immediate financial relief to local residents. He also turned over a check worth P12.48 million to the provincial government of Surigao del Sur, while Agusan del Sur received P50 million. These funds are expected to be used for various developmental projects that will benefit the wider community.
Several government agencies also actively took part at the venue and distributed various forms of aid, such as cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for crucial financial support; farm machinery and certificates of credit assistance from the DA to enhance agricultural productivity in the region; a certificate of award for a Bamboo Cage Project from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to boost local aquaculture; and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, and Government Internship Program (GIP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Training support funds and starter tool kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were also handed over to beneficiaries to support skills development and employment opportunities, as were certificates for farm machinery and farm-to-market roads from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In his message, Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr., of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), emphasized the strong campaign and sincerity of the Marcos administration in uplifting the lives of the Filipinos and in combating the illegal drug menace.
Sec. Abalos shared that President Marcos Jr. wanted to see for himself the situation of the Caraganons, especially the farmers and fisherfolk who were also affected by the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
“Sa loob ng isang taon, higit isang daan nalang ang walang fire trucks sa bansa, at ang mga ito ay magkakaroon na ng kanilang fire truck sa madaling panahon. Ito ay alinsunod sa mahigpit na direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos. Sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga, naging direktiba din ng Presidente ang hulihin ang mga drug pushers at pugsain ang mga drug den, at asahan niyo na ang ating kapulisan at kawani ng PDEA ay patuloy sa pagganap ng kanilang tungkulin sa pagsugpo ng ilegal na droga,” said Abalos.
(Translation: Within a year, we only have more than one hundred [local government units] left to be provided with fire trucks, and they will soon have their fire trucks. This is pursuant to the strong directive of President Marcos. In the campaign against illegal drugs, President Marcos also directed to run after and apprehend the drug pushers and destroy operating drug dens. Rest assured that our police personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency [PDEA] will continue to perform its functions and responsibilities to stop illegal drugs.)
Also, Sec. Rex Gatchalian of the DSWD stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration will continue to serve the best interests of the Filipino people by providing them with the necessary assistance and bringing government programs and services closer to the people at the grassroots.
“Nandito po kami kasama ang Presidente para personal po na ipaabot sa inyo ang tulong pinansiyal na kinakailangan ninyo (We are here with the President to personally reach out and provide you with the needed financial assistance). Rest assured that the DSWD along with other agencies here will continue our efforts to provide you with quality services,” he said.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur 1st and 2nd Congressional Representatives Romeo Momo Sr., Johnny Pimentel, respectively, and Governor Alexander Pimentel also thanked President Marcos for his effort and sincerity to help the Surigaonons and Agsurnons.
“On behalf of the ten thousand beneficiaries and the people of Surigao del Sur, lalo na po sa unang distrito ng Surigao del Sur, gusto po naming ipaabot sa inyo [Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.] ang aming taos-pusong pasasalamat. Sa inyo pong pagdalaw sa aming probinsiya [despite your hectic schedule]. Ang ayudang ito para sa sampung libong benepisyaryo ay malaki na pong tulong sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga kababayan natin dito sa aming probinsiya,” said Momo Sr.
“Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa inyong tulong. Kayo lang po ang presidente na umiikot sa buong rehiyon para makita mismo ang sitwasyon ng mga Pilipino at maipaabot ang kinakailangang tulong. Masayang masaya kaming lahat, hulog po kayo ng langit sa amin,” expressed Gov. Pimentel. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
