BACOLOD City – Amid the ongoing efforts to cushion the ill impacts brought about by the El Niño phenomenon in the province of Negros Occidental, Senator Manuel “Lito” Mercado Lapid is pushing for ramped-up government efforts.
Lapid said ensuring there is an adequate food supply and that damage to the local economy is mitigated must be among the top priorities.
“Gagawa kung paano makatulong; sa Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, kahit konti lang ay may mabibigyan,” he said in a press conference in this city on Sunday, April 7, after witnessing firsthand the situation of the province.
Lapid referred to the economic assistance provided by the government to the affected farmers and fishermen.
This includes the P1.4 billion allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for Local Adaptation to Water Access, or “Project Lawa,” and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished, or “Project BINHI.”
Both projects will provide Learning and Development Sessions on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction, cash-for-work, and cash-for-training to beneficiaries in priority areas exposed to the effects of El Niño.
“These programs of President BBM (Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.) are a great help for the communities affected by El Niño to alleviate its impact on their livelihoods and ensure that they do not go hungry,” Lapid stressed.
To recall, Marcos ordered agencies concerned to work together and establish a “whole-of-government approach” to ensure public safety and help farmers cope with the effects of a strong El Niño.
Marcos also directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. to help affected farmers hurdle regulation barriers imposed by the Insurance Commission and make sure they receive immediate financial aid.
Lapid also commended DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for acting with haste to mitigate the effects of El Niño.
This includes cloud-seeding, repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, livestock distribution, low-water use technology, and other economic assistance to farmers and fishermen.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier reported that the intense heat may continue until August of this year, based on the Department of Science and Technology’s projection./PN
