• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Senator Imee Marcos called on the mayors of Negros Occidental May 10 to help update the list of farmers and fisherfolk in their respective areas so that they could avail of financial assistance from the government.
Marcos was in La Carlota City this Friday afternoon to lead in the distribution of P9 million in Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to 3,000 beneficiaries from the 4th and 5th districts of the province.
She said the grant of AICS is the “first line of defense” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help hard-hit sectors, like the market vendors, tricycle drivers/operators, and farmers and fisherfolk.
“Social protection muna, ayuda, that’s the first response point” to help sectors severely affected, first by the COVID lockdowns, and then the continuing high prices of commodities, and the ongoing drought worsened by El Niño, the presidential sister told reporters.
Marcos said the Department of Agriculture is also giving financial assistance of P5,000 to each affected rice farmer, and P3,000 to each fisher.
“The problem is kulang-kulang and outdated ‘yong list ng DA” of farmers and fisherfolk in Negros, she said, adding that since the province is a very large agriculture area, there is need to update the registry so that those affected could also be assisted.
“I call on the mayors to help in the listing” since you know who are the farmers and fishers in your areas, Marcos said at the press conference where Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and several mayors were in attendance.
These include Mayor Rex Jalando-on of La Carlota City, Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres of Bago, considered as the rice granary of Negros Occidental; mayors Raymund Tongson of Himamaylan, Irene Montilla of Isabela, and Ella Garcia Yulo of Moises Padilla, among others.
Enrolment or registration to the national Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) is a major requirement by the DA in the release of various assistance to farmers, fishers, and even farm workers.
Marcos said any government assistance could help alleviate the situation of the agricultural sector, especially with the ongoing drought.
She also advised the public to be prudent in using water, and for farmers and other stakeholders to repair small water impounding and irrigation systems, in preparation for the La Niña. | CGC
