Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez lauded July 18 President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s program that extends direct financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk throughout the country.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives made the remark before the President distributed cash aid to about 10,000 beneficiaries under his Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program.
The distribution took place at the Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The recipients were from Palawan and the neighboring province of Marinduque.
House members, led by Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, and local officials, including Palawan Gov. Victorino Dennis Socrates and Vice Gov. Leoncio Ola, Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr., and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron attended the event.
In the process of introducing Marcos, Romualdez explained the rationale behind the financial assistance program for farmers and fisherfolk.
He assured Marcos of the continuing support of the House of Representatives for his visionary programs that continue to help every Filipino.
“We are very, very proud to be working under your leadership. I assure you, in the upcoming budget, these programs and projects of yours will be fully supported by the House of Representatives,” Romualdez said.
He expressed optimism that the program would lead to increased production and decreased importation, adding the PAFF intends to help all farmers and fisherfolk all over the country.
He told Palaweños that the President made sure that Palawan was among the first provinces that would benefit from the program because of its natural resources.
Romualdez, who is also the concurrent caretaker of the 1st and 3rd districts of the province of Palawan, urged the beneficiaries and Filipinos in general to support the program. ||
