A total of 7,000 qualified residents of Agusan del Norte, consisting of farmers, students and small entrepreneurs, received cash aid and other forms of assistance from programs conceived, formulated, and supported by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the House of Representatives, upon the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This is to help struggling sectors of Philippine society cope with everyday challenges.
Coinciding with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Agusan del Norte, Romualdez led the distribution of financial assistance under the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization; Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program for the Youth; and the Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity and Livelihood March 22.
A total of 2,000 FARM beneficiaries received P2,000 worth of financial assistance from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and five kilograms of rice each in a simple ceremony held at the Villa Paraiso covered court in Brgy. Ampayon, Butuan City.
The program was attended by Romualdez, Senator Bong Revilla, and Agusan Del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino, along with over 60 other House members, who also attended the Agusan del Norte BPSF.
The program also aims to address the predicament of the National Food Authority in accomplishing its mandate of increasing its buffer stock, which can be used in case of emergencies as the farmer-beneficiaries are encouraged to sell at least 100 kilos of their rice harvest to the NFA.
ISIP for the Youth targets tertiary and vocational education students, where each of the 3,000 qualified beneficiaries from Agusan del Norte receives P2,000 in financial assistance every six months through the DSWD AICS to cover tuition and other expenses. All beneficiaries also received five kilograms of rice, a press release from Romualdez’s office said.
Identified student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program where students can get scholarship assistance per year, amounting to a total of P15,000, and are assured slots under the Government Internship Program after graduation. Unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD program.
For the SIBOL Program, the distribution of P5,000 worth of financial assistance under DSWD AICS for 2,000 beneficiaries in Agusan del Norte was done in Barangay Imedejas Covered Court in Butuan City.
It is also an initiative of Romualdez that aims to encourage start-up businesses and serve as a dual solution for poverty alleviation and support during crises, providing individuals with sustainable opportunities that contribute to economic empowerment and resilience in challenging times.
Chosen beneficiaries are micro, small and medium enterprises business owners, all of whom also received five kilos of rice. ||
