Farmers, fisherfolk hit by El Niño in 3 provinces receive P348-M aid

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the distribution of cash and other forms of assistance worth over P348 million to farmers and fisherfolk from the provinces of Batangas, Rizal, and Cavite whose livelihoods were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

On Thursday, Marcos went to two events — one in San Juan, Batangas, and another in Dasmariñas, Cavite, to distribute farm machinery, boats, and fertilizers, and check on the industries after the El Niño’s onslaught during the recent dry season.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), over P170 million worth of assistance was handed to farmers and fisherfolk in Batangas, and P178.65 million went to those in Cavite and Rizal.

“Sa amin pong datos, mahigit 4,700 na magsasaka at mangingisda ang direktang naapektuhan noong nakaraan El Niño dito sa Calabarzon. Kung kaya’t naman kami ay naririto, upang magbigay ng tulong pinansyal at iba pang suporta sa mga naapektuhan ng mga  magsasaka ng mga mangingisda, at kasama din po dyan ang kanilang pamilya,” Marcos said in Dasmariñas.

(According to our data, more than 4,700 farmers and fishermen were directly affected in the last El Nino here in Calabarzon. That’s why we are here to provide financial assistance and other support to those farmers and fishermen affected, including their families.)

“Bilang panimula, nais kong ipabatid ng ang tanggapan ng pangulo, ay ang magbibigay ng sampung libong piso sa ilang magsasaka [at] mangingisda at pamilya dito sa Cavite, kasama na ang mga taga lalawigan ng Rizal,” he added.

(As a start, I would like to inform you that the Office of the President will give P10,000 to some farmers [and] fishermen and families here in Cavite, including those from the province of Rizal.)

In Batangas, Marcos said that the government is trying to give farmers and fisherfolk a chance to process their products within the area to increase productivity.

“Ito po ay dahil binibigyan natin po ng pagkakataon ang ating magsasaka na hindi na dinadala ang kanilang produkto, ang raw material kung tawagin para i-process sa ibang lugar,” Marcos explained.

(We are giving our farmers a chance to avoid the need to bring their products to other areas, as the raw material will be processed in the same area.)

“Dito, sa paggamit nitong mga makinaryang ito ay kaya na mag-processing kahit small scale lang, kaya na mag-processing ang ating mga magsasaka, ang ating mangingisda,” he added.

(Here, by using the machines provided, farmers and fisherfolk can process products, even on a small scale.)

Aside from the cash aid, the following items were distributed:

• tractors
• combine harvester
• multi-tillers
• rice thresher
• hauling trucks
• pump and engine sets for irrigation
•  grain collector bagger
• corn husker sheller
• a hammer mill
• forage chopper
• cassava grater and chipper
• recirculating dryer
• solar-powered irrigation systems

The assistance for Calabarzon arose after the El Niño weather phenomenon in early April 2024.  According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), El Niño is characterized by the unusual rise in average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, resulting in warmer waters.

As an effect, below-normal rainfall is expected, which can cause dry spells and droughts in several areas.

Late May, Pagasa said the country is still feeling the effects of a weakened El Niño, but there is a 60 percent chance that La Niña —  the opposite of El Niño, where SSTs get cooler — would persist from June to August 2024.

READ: Farm losses from El Niño climb to P9.89B

Calabarzon was one of the 13 regions heavily affected by the crisis.  According to Marcos, the region incurred at least P408 million in losses due to the phenomenon. With reports from Moss Laygo, INQUIRER.net trainee