PILI, CAMARINES SUR – President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. together with his cabinet secretaries led by Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. personally handed over the cash assistance dubbed as Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) for some 5,000 TS Kristine-stricken farmers from Camarines Sur on November 6, 2024.
In his speech Pres. Marcos reiterated his directives to the government agencies to come up with integrated and future proof plans to combat climate change. “Umaasa ako na sa tulong at suportang iniaabot namin sainyo ngayon, kayo ay magkakaroon ng sapat na kakayahan upang makabangon muli. Naglaan po ng P50 M ang Office of the President na ipapamahagi ng DSWD sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. Makakatanggap ng tig P10,000 ang 5,000 magsasaka, mangingisda at iba pang pamilyang naapektuhan. Talaga pong nagpupursige tayo na maibalik sa normal ang kondisyon sa lalong madaling panahon. Tayo po ay nakakaranas ng epekto ng climate change. Hindi lang po Pilipinas ang tinatamaan ng pagbabago ng panahon na ito kundi buong daigdig. Nagbigay ako ng direktiba sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na gumawa ng mga proyektong akma sa ating pang malawakang matinding pagbaha at nang maiwasan na ang matinding pagbaha,” he said.
“Inatasan ko ang DPWH na muling pag-aralan ang Bicol River Basin Development Program. Upang gawin itong akma sa mga hamon ng pagbabago ng klima natin. Sa kasalukuyan ay inaayos na ang detailed engineering design na inaasahang sisimulan sa 1st quarter next year. Inatasan ko ang DPWH, DILG at DENR kasama ang local na pamahalaan upang maging integrated at future proof ang kanilang proyekto para sa Bicol River Basin,” he added.
“Sa DPWH at DTI, dapat maseguro natin na ang mga imprastruktura ay matitibay at pinag- aralang mabuti. Ang DBM naman ay sisiguruhin na tuloy tuloy ang pag tugon sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng quick response fund,” Pres. Marcos said.
Meanwhile, DA Secretary Kiko Laurel, Jr. turned over indemnity checks worth P16.89 M to some 1,589 farmers of Camarines Sur who have applied for crop insurance with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. Maria Janice Obias, PCIC Bicol Regional Manager said that her office has already approved P24.41 M claims for 2,645 farmers regionwide and distribution of these checks are on-going in other provinces as well.
DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla who also graced the event said that DA Bicol has selected the 15 municipalities of Camarines Sur that were severely devastated by Typhoon Kristine based on the submitted damage reports.
The beneficiaries of the P10K PAFF assistance were RSBSA -listed farmers whose crops were severely damaged and with no chance of recovery.
Also present during the PAFF distribution were Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian; DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla; and Special Asst. to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo. Press Sec Cesar Chavez; Governor Luigi Villafuerte; Cam Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte; 3rd District Rep. Migz Villafuerte; and 1st District Rep. Hori Horibata.
As of this writing, DA Bicol has recorded a total of P3.2 B losses in agriculture affecting 69,386 hectares of agricultural crops in Bicol, and P1.8 B of which was incurred by Cam. Sur farmers and fishers. (Lovella P. Guarin – RAFIS 5)