ILOILO – A total of 2,899 farmers and fisherfolk in this province have received the first wave of financial assistance amounting to P10,000 each, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program initiated by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The cash distribution event took place at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district, Iloilo City on the morning of Friday, July 26.
Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo explained that the initial beneficiaries, hailing from the municipalities of Igbaras, Banate, Mina, Estancia, Calinog, Bingawan, Dingle, and Barotac Viejo, were selected for prompt submission of required documents, including a master list detailing the El Niño damage and declaring a state of calamity.
He added that the remaining 2,000 beneficiaries are scheduled to receive their assistance on July 30 and 31.
Due to the limited budget of P50 million allocated by President Marcos for the province, only 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk will benefit from this round of assistance, prompting the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to establish strict criteria for eligibility.
The use of the financial aid is at the discretion of the beneficiaries, but it is hoped that the funds will be used primarily to boost agricultural and fishing activities.
“Given that such assistance from our President is rare, we expect the funds to be used mainly for enhancing farming and fishing operations,” said Toledo.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, speaking on behalf of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, particularly for household needs and farm inputs.
He expressed gratitude to President Marcos for the financial support extended to those impacted by the El Niño phenomenon.
Echoing these sentiments, beneficiaries such as Bimbo Cervo and Mary Ann Caras from Bingawan expressed their profound thanks for the timely aid, which they believe will help mitigate the losses they suffered from the adverse effects of El Niño on their crops and livelihoods.
The assistance program underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, which plays a crucial role in boosting the regional economy./PN
