President Marcos extended P100 million in financial assistance to Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato provinces on Friday for those affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
During the ceremonial turnover at the Sultan Kudarat Sports and Cultural Center, President Marcos handed P50 million each to Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu and Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza.
“This is my purpose here right now, not just to provide assistance, but to promise that the government is with you in fighting the bad effects of El Niño,” President Marcos told the gathering.
The assistance includes P10,000 in presidential aid for affected farmers, fisherfolk, and residents, along with P5,000 from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance.
Additionally, the DA provided seedlings, fertilizers, and machinery.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided P10,000 in assistance through its crisis program, while Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) gave roughly P4,000 to 583 beneficiaries under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) distributed certificate grants worth over P40,000, and the Technical Educations Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided 21 livelihood toolkits and allowances to scholars.
Speaker Martin Romualdez also contributed five kilos of rice to each resident.
“Our visit today is to show our support during this crisis, and to ensure that government assistance and services will reach you who truly work hard for your family and for the country,” President Marcos said.
In another part of Mindanao, over 80 members of the House of Representatives showed up in Zamboanga City to show solidarity and support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) held in the city on Friday.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is the leader of the 85 lawmakers along with local host Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, said he is very pleased with the turnout of lawmakers in the said Serbisyo Caravan, proving the “unprecedented unity” of government officials in the program.
“We are truly happy with the unity we see among our lawmakers who attended the Zamboanga City BPSF. It is inspiring to see more than 80 legislators with us in Congress to personally show their support for a program that brings government services closer to our citizens,” said Romualdez, the leader of the 308-strong House of Representatives.
The Zamboanga City BPSF leg is the 16th installment of the service caravan that aims to visit all 82 provinces of the Philippines and bring together over 400 government services and cash aid programs worth P580 million to 111,000 beneficiaries in the city.
“Never before have we witnessed such overwhelming solidarity among representatives from across all regions of our country. The presence of more than 80 District and Partylist representatives here underscores the commitment of the House of Representatives to serve as true champions of the Filipino people,” Romualdez declared.
This display of unity in the BPSF, he added, is proof of the solidarity of the Legislature with President Marcos in passing important pieces of legislation that will benefit every Filipino. This harmony, he added, enables lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms and initiatives under the President’s leadership.
“We see the dedication of our representatives in Congress to personally see how every law that passes through Congress and every program that we fund benefits the Filipino people,” Romualdez said.
Aside from Speaker Romualdez, Dalipe, and Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, a total of 82 other lawmakers attended the Zamboanga City BPSF, bringing the total to 85. Second in terms of attendance is the Agusan del Norte BPSF with 62 lawmakers present, followed by the Benguet BPSF with 60.
House leaders like Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Deputy Speaker Yasser Balindong, and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo led the other lawmakers in attending and supporting the Zamboanga BPSF.
Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla and her son Rep. Bryan Revilla were also present, to represent Sen. Ramon Revilla, Jr. in the event. Aside from many veteran lawmakers, neophyte lawmakers like Reps. Zia Alonto Adiong, Margarita Nograles, Cheeno Miguel Almario, and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez also showed up to show their support for the BPSF.
“The decision of these lawmakers to witness firsthand how the Marcos administration is bringing government services directly to the people speaks volumes about their dedication to serving the nation,” Romualdez said.
“I hope that in our next Service Fairs, more legislators will come so that they can see the benefits of our government-funded programs.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos extends P100M worth of assistance to El Niño-hit folks in Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato.”