President Ferdinand R. Marcos (File photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Sunday said his administration is committed to giving continuous assistance to vulnerable sectors severely affected by surging consumer prices.
He made this commitment as he led the distribution of government assistance to various sectors in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
“Pagka ako ay umiikot at pumupunta sa iba’t-ibang lugar, tinitiyak ko na yung inyong inaasahang tulong na galing sa gobyerno ay tuloy-tuloy ang parating sa taong bayan (When I go around to different places, I make sure that the help you expect from the government will continue to reach the people),” he said in his speech.
Marcos acknowledged how many Filipinos continue to struggle to make ends meet as the costs of basic goods and necessities further increased due to recent oil price hikes.
“Alam naman natin medyo mahirap ang buhay talaga ngayon. Lahat ng bilihin ay tumataas, lahat ng gasolina, lahat ng krudo, lahat ng ating mga pangangailangan ay tumataas ang presyo. Kaya kahit paano…at least makakatulong kami (We know that life is getting hard today. Basic commodities are increasing, gasoline, crude, all our basic necessities are increasing. That’s why even in our own small way, at least we can help),” he said.
“Habang nangangailangan ang taong bayan ng tulong, gagawin ng gobyerno lahat para kahit papaano ay makatulong…(As long as the people need help, the government will do everything to somehow help them),” he added.
Marcos, who heads the Department of Agriculture (DA), reiterated his promise to prioritize efforts to increase food production and lower the prices of food products.
He specifically cited problems besetting the country’s sugar supply, noting how it has been “neglected” for several years.
“Ang problema ay sa industriya ng asukal, marami tayong kailangan ayusin na problema dahil napabayaan sa nakaraang ilang taon. Kaya’t dahan-dahan maibabalik natin (The problem is that in the sugar industry, we have a lot of problems to fix because they have been neglected for the past few years. So now we are slowly bringing it back),” Marcos said.
“Sa ngayon tinitiyak lang natin na sapat ang dumadating sa taong bayan hindi lamang asukal pati na ang lahat ng produktong agrikultura para naman e kahit papaano ay masasabi natin na may sapat naman na food supply na kayang bayaran ng ating mamamayan (Right now. we are just making sure that enough is coming to the people, not only sugar but also all the agricultural products so that at least we can say that there is enough food supply that our people can afford),” he said.
He also expressed hope that the time would come when Filipinos would no longer need assistance from the government.
“Sa palagay ko naman po basta’t ipagpatuloy natin ito, basta’t ipagpatuloy natin na pagandahin ang paghawak sa ekonomiya, eh sana naman hindi na tatagal ay hindi nyo na kakailanganin itong tulong na ito ngunit habang kailangan ninyo, nandito kami (I think that as long as we continue providing assistance, as long as we continue to improve the handling of the economy, I hope it won't be long before you won't need this help but as long as you need it, we are here),” he added.
Marcos handed over the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP10,000 to 100 recipients.
The AICS is a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that provides immediate relief assistance to individuals and families affected by calamities and other emergency or crisis situations.
He also turned over mock checks to six farmer organizations amounting to PHP88 million under the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project.
The DA also distributed palay seeds to 100 farmers, a corn mill and three incubators.
Marcos is in Negros Occidental to attend the inauguration of the Upper East and unveiling of the Township Marker.
He will also grace the culmination of the 43rd Masskara Festival. (PNA)
