Bicol Region – Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) joined his Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the distribution of government aid to farmers, fisherfolks and families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

As part of the DSWD’s disaster response and in line with the President’s directives to assist the agriculture and fisheries sectors in recovering from the storm’s aftermath, a total of Php100,000,000 in financial assistance was disbursed to 10,000 beneficiaries during the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) payout. This assistance was provided through the Agency’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

During the distribution, the Department served 5,000 beneficiaries from 18 Local Government Units (LGUs) in Albay, while another 5,000 beneficiaries came from 15 LGUs in Camarines Sur. These PAFFF-AKAP beneficiaries were primarily farmers and fisherfolk who were directly affected by the storm.

In his speech, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the government’s relief efforts aimed at helping Bicolanos recover and restore their livelihoods.

 “𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘱𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘬 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢, 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋…,” he stated.

The President also reassured the public that, in addition to ongoing relief operations, national agencies are working to improve the country’s disaster preparedness and preventive measures.

Meanwhile, Secretary Gatchalian assured the people of Bicol that the DSWD would continue to provide support to the affected families in the region, in accordance with President Marcos’ instructions.

With the DSWD Chief is DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez and Field Office V Regional Director Norman Laurio.

Beneficiaries expressed their deep gratitude to President Marcos and the DSWD for the assistance they received.

“𝘈𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰’𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘎𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘸𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘉𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭. 𝘎𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘺𝘰, 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪 𝘯𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘯,” said Gerry Decierra, a 52-year-old farmer from Nabua, Camarines Sur.

The department remains committed to supporting the President’s initiatives and directives for the betterment and well-being of Filipinos, particularly during these challenging times, ensuring that no one is left behind.#