EMERGENCY CASH AID. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributes emergency cash assistance to farmers affected by flooding brought by Typhoons Egay and Falcon and the enhanced southwest monsoon in this undated photo. Some PHP29.8 million has so far been distributed to 5,749 typhoon-hit farmers in Pampanga province who received PHP5,175 each. (Photo courtesy of DSWD Region 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is continuously extending cash assistance to farmers in this province who were affected by the onslaught of Typhoons Egay and Falcon and the enhanced southwest monsoon last month.
This is under the DSWD’s emergency cash transfer program which is being implemented in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to enable the early recovery of the affected families and individuals.
Some PHP29.8 million has so far been distributed to the typhoon-hit farmers which could help them recover from losses due to flooding, according to a report of the Pampanga Provincial Information Office on Wednesday.
The report said 5,749 farmers from the towns of San Simon, Arayat, San Luis, Apalit and Candaba have received PHP5,175 each.
Governor Dennis Pineda on Wednesday thanked the President and the DSWD for the timely support for the farmers.
“Pasalamatan po natin si Presidente Marcos at DSWD sa tulong na ito. Alam po namin hindi namin kayang mapunan lahat ng mga nasira ninyong pananim dahil sa calamity na dinala ng bagyo. Pero ang importante, may grasya na dumating. Nung nag request kami ng mga mayor and ni congressman, agad po kaming pinagbigyan. Ganyan po tayo kamahal ni Presidente Bongbong (We thank President Marcos and DSWD for this assistance. We know that we cannot fully compensate for all the crops you lost due to the calamities. But what's important is that grace has come. When we requested assistance, we were promptly granted. That's how much President Bongbong cares for us)," Pineda said.
Candaba Mayor Rene Maglangue said that more than 5,000 hectares of rice lands in his town were affected by flooding brought by the weather disturbances.
“Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng ayudang binibigay sa mga magsasaka sa bayan ng Candaba. Napakalaking bagay ito (Thank you for all the assistance being provided to the farmers in Candaba. This is big help),” Maglangue said in a radio interview during the distribution of the assistance on Wednesday.
Aside from the cash aid, he said the provincial government had earlier provided free rice seeds and fertilizers to the farmers.
“Pagbaba ng tubig ay nakapagtanim agad ang mga magsasaka dahil dumating agad yung libreng binhi at yung libreng fertilizer at ang saya ng magsasaka dahil hindi nila inaasahan na may darating pang PHP5,175 (Once the flood subsided, the farmers were able to plant immediately because of the prompt arrival of the free rice seeds and free fertilizers and the farmers are so happy because they did not expect that there is PHP5,175),” Maglanque added.
Meanwhile, typhoon-affected farmers from the towns of San Simon, Minalin, Macabebe and Bacolor are also set to receive similar assistance. (PNA)
