Marcos brings aid to Pangasinan farmers, fishers affected by El Niño
LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Calling the farmers and fisherfolk “heroes of the nation,” President Marcos came to this town on Friday to bring financial assistance to them.
During the “Tulong sa Magsasaka at Mangingisda” program here, the President distributed P10,000 to each family of farmers and fisherfolk who were affected by the drought brought by the recent El Niño phenomenon that damaged crops and affected the aquaculture areas in the country.
The aid, under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families, totaled of more than P180 million.
The President said they came to the province to bring hope and new beginnings to farmers and fishers, whom he described as “mga bayani nang bayan (heroes of the nation).”
Losses
The President noted that almost 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the Ilocos Region, including Pangasinan, were affected by the drought, which resulted in losses of more than P559 million.
Yes these farmers and fishers, he said, still worked hard and persevered to feed their families.
Other assistance that were received by the fishers were a motorized banca and equipment for farming tilapia and shellfish and for salt processing provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the region, said Mr. Marcos.
Mr. Marcos also distributed agrarian debt condonation certificates to 3,555 farmer beneficiaries from the Ilocos Region. The total condoned amount was P50, 562,448. The amount ranged from P851.57 to almost P300,000 for each of the beneficiaries.
Most of the beneficiaries came from Pangasinan, while 246 were from Ilocos Norte, 117 from La Union and 34 from Ilocos Sur.
The distribution of the certificates was part of Republic Act No. 11953, or the “New Agrarian Emancipation Act,” that condones all outstanding loans, amortizations, interests, penalties and surcharges associated with the allocation of agricultural lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act.
