Luna, Apayao
July 19, 2024
“Higit po sa aking pasasalamat, narito po ako, kasama ng ating ilang opisyal ng pamahalaan, upang maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka, mangingisda at inyong mga pamilya,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conveyed to the agricultural workers and their families during the distribution of Presidential assistance to El Niño-hit communities in the Cordilla Administrative Region (CAR).
In his remarks, the President said that the Region’s agricultural sector suffered PhP1.24 billion worth of damage, affecting the livelihood of around 28,000 farmers and fisherfolk.
“Hindi biro ang ganitong laki at lawak na pagkawala, na sana ay naging pagkain ng maraming pamilya at naging kita na ng ating mga kababayan,” he said, adding that the government’s presence in today’s program aims to provide for their needs to help them recover from the crisis.
In total, more than PhP260 million has been allotted for the beneficiaries in the Region. This is on top of the other assistance and interventions from different agencies that form part of the whole-of-government approach in ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of programs and services, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries (BFAR) and the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“Higit pa sa ipinapaabot namin na tulong at serbisyo, sinisiguro po natin na hindi maiiwanan ang Apayao at buong CAR sa ating mithiin na sama-samang pag-unlad,” the Chief Executive said, citing other priority projects lined up for the Region to further advance economic development.
These include the Marimay Earthfill Dam, the Piddig-Carasi-Calanasan Road and construction of the Apayao Sports Complex or Convention Center. Moreover, around PhP83 million worth of funds, food and non-food items have been prepared for the Region in anticipation of the looming rainy season.
“Asahan po ninyo na hindi tumitigil ang inyong pamahalaan upang [ipatupad] ang ating mga proyekto at programa na magsusulong ng mas maganda na buhay para sa ating magsasaka at mangingisda,” he said, further urging his countrymen to unite and help one another toward achieving prosperity.
“Nandito lang po ako, ang inyong pamahaalan na handang umagapay sa inyo sa lahat ng oras, anuman ang panahon, anuman ang problema, anuman ang pangangailangan ninyo. Kapit-bisig po nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa isang mas produktibo at masaganang bukas,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his speech.
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