Marcos provides aid to El Niño-affected farmers, fisherfolk in Tawi-Tawi

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday distributed assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and families affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Tawi-Tawi province.

''Ang pakay ko po sa pag-iikot ko sa iba’t ibang bayan at lalawigan sa bansa ay: Una, upang personal kong makita kung ang tulong ng gobyerno ay natatanggap ng mga tao at kung ito ba ay nakatutulong sa mga pangangailangan ng mga nahihirapan dahil sa tagtuyot,'' Marcos said in his speech during the aid distribution in Bongao.

(My goal for going around the country is to personally see if the residents are receiving the assistance from the government and if this address the effects of El Niño.)

''Pangalawa, andito rin po ako upang makausap kayo, nang maunawaan natin ang inyong sitwasyon, at makahanap tayo nang nararapat na solusyon sa inyong mga hinaharap na suliranin,'' he added.

(I'm also here to talk to you and understand your situation so that we can find solutions to the challenges that you are facing.)

Marcos vowed that his administration is exerting all measures to ease the effects of the phenomenon to farmers and fisherfolk.

The President said the government intends to carry out more projects in Tawi-Tawi to preserve peace in the locality and the entire Mindanao region.

He said the local government of Tawi-Tawi and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are supporting the government’s advocacy to serve Filipinos, especially those residing in the remote areas. 

The President gave cash assistance to 10 selected beneficiaries in the province, as well as P10 million each to the provincial governments of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave P10,000 each to 10,000 beneficiaries composed of farmers and fisherfolk, and families while-the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez distributed five kilos of rice to each attendee. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ/ VAL, GMA Integrated News