LUNA, Apayao – More than 1900 farmes and fisherfolks from Pudtol and Luna received Php10,000 each in financial aid through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks, and Families (PAFFF) program from the Office of the President.
The payout program, aimed at helping those severely affected by the El Nino, was conducted simultaneously at EKB Gymnasium in Pudtol, and BGVJr. Memorial Gymnasium in Luna.
This is part of the ongoing payout caravan of the Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA) to utilize the Php50 million grant awarded to the province by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
This is now the second batch of PAFFF payout to be conducted in the province after July 19, where President Marcos personally led the awarding ceremony.
The province suffered more than Php319 million in damages from El Nino, mostly from drought and pest infestations brought on by the hot weather, according to the report from the Provincial Office for Agricultural Services (POAS) and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
In his talk at the EKB Gymnasium, Provincial Administrator Atty. Edmar Pascua encouraged the affected farmers and fisherfolk to remain hopeful and assured them that the government will continue to support them until they recover.
“Agyaman tayo ta adda iti kakastoyen nga interventions iti gobyerno. Sitayo nga mannalon haan tayo kuma maawanan iti namnama. Agan-anos tayo latta kakabsat nu anya man nga didigra nga sumangbay iti biyag tayo ta dakdakkel to met iti sukat na. Greater blessings will follow,” stated Pascua.
The municipality of Pudtol recorded the second highest number of beneficiaries at 1,269 recipients, next to the capital town Kabugao which had 1,381. Atty. Pascua likewise reiterated the guidelines of the PAFFF to prevent misunderstandings like those experienced during the first payout.
“1,269 families kunana. Kayat na saw-en ket families saan nga household,” he clarified. “Ti bilang na ket pamilya, isu nga uray agkabbalay da, nu adda metlang kanya-kanya nga pamilya da, qualified da latta, as long as adda diay nagan da idiay listaan,” he added.
Meanwhile, similar payout activity was conducted at the BGVJr. Memorial Sports Center in Luna for the 720 beneficiaries from the said town. By Jess Christley Marquez
