Digos City, Davao del Sur
June 6, 2024
Emphasizing the damages brought by the El Niño phenomenon to farmlands and fisheries that deeply affected the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk in the Province of Davao del Sur and nearby areas in Region XI, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited Digos City to bring various government aid that will help in the recovery of Davao Region.
“Sa masisipag nating magsasaka at mangingisda – kayo ang nagsisilbing tagapangalaga ng sektor ng agrikultura. Kayo rin ang bumubuhay sa inyong mga pamayanan dahil sa mga pagkaing iyong hinahain sa hapag ng bawat tahanan. Kaya naman minabuti naming pumarito ngayon upang ipaalam sa inyo na hinding hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Ang pamahalaan ay laging handang umalalay at magbigay ng tulong, lalo na sa panahon ng kagipitan,” remarked the President in his speech.
He reiterated the whole-of-government approach in responding to the impact of El Niño and the strong coordination between the national and local governments in bringing all forms of assistance to those in need.
“Alam ko po na prayoridad ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Davao del Sur ang patatagin ang mga sektor ng imprastraktura, kalusugan, kabuhayan, turismo at agrikultura. Nananalig ako na maisasakatuparan natin ang mga ito sapagkat nariyan ang mga ahensyang kabalikat natin sa muling pag-ahon. Sa katunayan, sa pangunguna ng DPWH, kasalukuyan nating tinatapos ang ilang proyekto tulad ng Matanao-Kiblawan-Padada Road at Junction Matti-Aurora Bypass Road,” the President said.
“Ang DOTr naman ay kasama rin sa pagbabalangkas ng mga pasilidad tulad ng Tubalan at Poblacion Ports sa Malita; Balut Island Port at Mabila Port sa Sarangani; at Balangonan Port sa Jose Abad Santos…Idagdag pa natin ang Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 na magsisimula rito sa Digos papuntang Davao hanggang Tagum,” he added.
During the program, President Marcos Jr. turned over farm and fishing machineries, equipment, cash assistance of PhP10,000 each to select beneficiaries and checks worth almost PhP20 million to the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur and PhP10 million to the Provincial Government of Davao Occidental.
Apart from these, several government agencies distributed various aid such as cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), allowance for organic agriculture production from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), certificate for coconut seedlings and fertilizers from the Philippine Coconut Authority, and five (5) kilos of rice to each attendee from the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
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