President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to lead the ceremonial distribution June 27 in Bacolod City of financial assistance worth P10,000 each to 8,315 farmers and fisherfolk in Negros Occidental, who were severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
Marcos will be accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil during the distribution ceremony at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez, and other provincial and local government officials and agencies are also expected to attend the event.
PCO assistant secretary for Television Dale de Vera said the distribution of aid totaling P83,150,000 is in line with the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF), with the budget coming from the Office of the President.
De Vera also said that PAFFF beneficiaries were endorsed and validated by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“What the government wants is ilapit po ang assistance, ‘yung tulong ng gobyerno sa public instead of the people going to the Palace”, de Vera said as he cited Marcos’ instruction that no one should be left behind during a crisis.
De Vera also disclosed that local government units that received funds from the Office of the President will be given 30 days to liquidate upon its release to the recipients to ensure transparency.
Other government agencies are likewise set to turn over machineries to the beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, a “LAB for ALL” activity will be opened to the public, also at the UNO-R grounds Thursday, for free medical laboratory tests and screenings.
A brainchild of First Lady Liza Marcos, the LAB for ALL aims to make healthcare services more accessible to Filipinos through the conduct of caravans that offer free consultation, health screening and assessment, laboratory tests, and medicines, as well as other services from various government agencies. | PIA
