About P17.78 million in cash assistance has been distributed to beneficiaries of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) July 17 and 18 in several local government units of Negros Occidental.
The assistance was part of the P50 million turned over to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as PAFFF June 27 in Bacolod City, and intended for 5,000 beneficiaries in the entire province.
A total of P5.35 million was distributed to 535 farmer-beneficiaries in the 4th District, including 233 from Bago, in rites held at the city’s Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center July 18.
Each recipient affected by the El Niño phenomenon received P10,000 in PAFFF, and food packs from the provincial government.
The distribution was led by Lacson, and Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo. The latter said the assistance is proof that the national and provincial governments are concerned about the welfare of the farmers and fisherfolk.
He said in a city press release that “agriculture is one of the pillars of our economy”, and has to be supported.
Also present at the distribution were Board Members Andrew Martin Torres and Manuel Frederick Ko, Bago councilors Victor Michael Javellana and Ma. Femmy Alvarez-Martir, executive assistant and former councilor Jorge Araneta, and Abuanan Punong Barangay Michael Bermudez, as well as agricultural program coordinating officer Engr. Ramy Baylosis, representing DA-Western Visayas executive director Dennis Arpia, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist OIC Dina Genzola, Bago agriculturist-designate Marvin John Blance, and other city and municipal agriculturists in the district.
The PAFFF distributed in Calatrava July 17, meanwhile, amounted to P12,430,000.
The 1,243 recipients are farmers from the municipalities of Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Toboso, and the cities of Escalante and San Carlos City, a Capitol press release said. ||
