The Iloilo Provincial Government has started distributing the P10,000 financial assistance to the farmers and fisherfolk who were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
The assistance came from the P50 million Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) turned over by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. during his visit to San Jose, Antique on June 27, 2024.
Around 2,800 recipients received the cash aid for the first batch at the Iloilo Sports Complex. The farmers and fisherfolk came from the towns of Igbaras, Banate, Mina, Estancia, Calinog, Bingawan, Dingle and Barotac Viejo.
Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo said the distribution for the second batch will be held next week to control the crowd.
Present in the distribution were Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Second District Board Member Rolito Cajilig and Gareth Bayate representing Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 regional director Dennis Arpia.
Banias told the farmers that Gov. Defensor has already asked for additional funding from the national government for the remaining farmers and fisherfolk who are not included in the budget released by PBBM.
The Provincial Agriculture Office reported that more than 11,000 farmers and fisherfolk were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
#MoRProGResIloilo
