President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, traveled to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Ilocos Region on Friday, July 19, 2024. There, the President visited his fellow Ilocanos and distributed Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).
Likewise, Secretary Gatchalian assisted the President in giving financial assistance to around 2,500 beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP). The distribution was held at the Luna Municipal Gym in Luna, Apayao.
BBM, Sec. Gatchalian Provide Assistance Up North
President Marcos said that more than 28,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions have been affected by drought.
“Higit sa aking pasasalamat, narito po ako, kasama ng ilang opisyal ng ating pamahalaan upang maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka, mangingisda, at inyong mga pamilya. Alam naman po natin na lahat ng maraming kabuhayan ang lubhang tinamaan ng El Niño noong mga nakaraang buwan (I am here, together with other officials, to provide assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and your families. We all know that much of your livelihood has been affected by El Niño in the past months)” the President stated, as cited in a DSWD press release.
Furthermore, President Marcos distributed more than PHP 50 million to each of the provincial governments of Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. He also gave PHP 34.5 million to the provincial government of Abra, and PHP 29.7 million to the provincial government of Benguet.
After the distribution of financial assistance in CAR, the President and his team went to the Narciso Ramos Gymnasium in the municipality of Lingayen, Pangasinan.
“Nandito rin po, kasama natin ang kalihim ng departmento ng Social Welfare and Development, ang DSWD Secretary dahil po… alam ko na nakikita niyo siya kapag may bagyo, may baha, may lindol, pumutok ang bulkan dahil kapag may sakuna, may kalamidad siyempre DSWD ang pumapasok (Also with us is the Secretary of the DSWD… I know that you see him whenever there’s a typhoon, flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption because when there’s a crisis, of course the DSWD comes in),” the President said.
“Ngunit kasama siya ngayon dito dahil sa aming pananaw, ang mga pinagdaanan ng ating mga mannalon ken mangngalap ay talagang krisis din (But he is also with us because we believe that what our farmers and fisherfolk are experiencing are crises, too),” President Marcos said to his fellow Ilocanos.
The President and DSWD Secretary led the distribution of PHP 10,000 cash aid to around 4,000 beneficiaries of the AKAP program. President Marcos also gave farm machinery and equipment to farmer cooperatives and associations, along with financial assistance amounting to PHP 10,000 each to 10 select beneficiaries. In addition, he provided presidential assistance to the local governments of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union.
Aside from President Marcos and DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. was also present during the aid distributions.
Final Thoughts
AKAP is DSWD initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income persons who do not have access to programs like Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) since they do not belong to the “poorest” sector. However, they still need cash aid due to inflation and the rising costs of basic goods.