President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and families in Ilagan City, Isabela on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Photo screengrab from RTVM)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed his intention to find ways to assist farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Cagayan Valley.
Marcos made the pronouncement during a distribution of assistance at Ilagan City Community Center in Isabela.
“Makakaasa kayong hindi ito ang huli nating pagkikita dahil marami pang nakaabang na proyekto para sa inyong lahat,” he said during his speech.
(You can hope this will not be our last meeting as there are many more projects in store for you all.)
“Sa susunod na mga buwan at taon, pagtutuunan namin ng pansin ang mga paraan kung paapaano mapalaki ang kita ng ating magsasaka, at paano mapapaganda ang ating mga produktong pagkain,” he told the audience.
(In the coming months and years, we will focus on ways to increase the income of our farmers, and how to improve our food products.)
READ: Gov’t earmarks P100-M aid to battle effects of El Niño in Bicol
Part of these projects, said Marcos, is the establishment of new irrigation facilities, improvement of agricultural logistics and supply chain, post-harvest facilities; and building better farm-to-market roads.
The president said modern methods in agriculture will also be given through training, using science-based and climate-resilient farming technologies.
READ: Marcos vows amid El Niño: ‘Malacañang will go to the people’
Marcos also announced plans to introduce a new variety of crops to farmers, which will be more resilient to the changing weather.
“Ito’y pinag-aaralan na mabuti at kapag na-develop na itong mga ito ay dadalhin namin sa inyo upang mas maging maganda ang ani ng ating mga magsasaka,” he said.
(It is being studied carefully, and when it has been developed, we will bring it to you so that the harvest of our farmers will be better.)
During the distribution, P191 million worth of aid was turned over to farmers and fisherfolk.
Financial assistance of P10,000 was distributed to 5,000 beneficiaries through the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.