President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s last stop Thursday is in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental to give financial assistance to farmers, fishers and families who were affected by the El Niño. 

Over 10,000 beneficiaries were given P10,000 with funds from the Office of the President.

In his speech, Marcos Jr. said they are closely monitoring landslides and floods in the Negros Oriental Province especially as this affects the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks. 

He gave P50 million cash for Negros Oriental and P25 million for Siquijor.

“Ito ay dagdag bukod sa ating mga programa. Napakabigat ang naramdaman lalo na sa mga magsaska at mangingisda. Malaki ang nawala dahil sa pagtuyo,” said Marcos. Jr.

Marcos signs law creating Negros Island Region 

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave P10,000 each to 7,200 beneficiaries under the Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Panagkita Program (AKAP). 

The Department of Agriculture will also give greenhouses with hydroponics; one for Dumaguete city and two for Tanjay City.

Marcos Jr. also directed the department to provide for seeds that are suitable for urban gardening which include yellow corn seed and abaca. 

DA’s adjacent agencies will also give machine tructors, stripping machines and stripping knifes to affected farmers. 

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on the other hand will provide fishing boats, ropes, fishing nets.

The Philippine Coconut Authority will also assist in planting coconuts which could jumpstart an agribusiness.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Agency is tasked to also provide assistance to severely affected farmers in Tanjay City.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, will give also give equipment to start organic farming including scholarships to train in growing coconut and rice.

He also promised that the Department of Labor and Employment will assist in placing the affected individuals under the integrated livelihood program.

The Department of Trade and Industry will also dole out vouchers and certificates under the Pangkabuhayan sa pagbangon at ginhawa program.

Marcos says to sign bill creating Negros Island Region 

All those who attended also received 5 kilos of rice from House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

 PROJECTS FOR NEGROS OREIENTAL

 “Hindi po lamang galing sa tanggapan ko… Dala ang magaganda balita tungkol sa proyekto sa pamalaan ang ikakasaya ninyo,” Marcos Jr. said. 

With the creation of the Negros Island Region, Marcos Jr. vowed to set aside P17 million for the New Dumaguete Airport Development Project. 

“Ito’y simbolo ng pag-asa,” Marcos Jr. said.

At present, the airport of the province in Sibulan town can only accommodate a few flights and small aircraft. 

He also mentioned the Dumaguete port expansion project which aims to widen capacity of the province’s ports for passengers and cargo. 

Dumaguete City will also expect a Super Family Health Center worth P15 million.

It will have a birthing clinic, pharmacy, and X-ray machine for all 30 barangays.

“Sa kabuukan ang lahat ng ito ay hudyat ng bagong yugto para sa ating mamayan,” the President also said.

 Marcos distributes nearly 5,000 land titles to Negros Occidental farmers

 Marcos Jr. was also proud to announce that he signed into law the creation of the Negros Island Region.

 He said that it has been long studied and pushed.

 “Atin lamang ito isinakatuparan,” he said.

 Through the new region, Marcos Jr. hopes that both provinces will be able to develop fully. 

He also sees this as an easy way for national projects to be implemented at the local level. 

“Hindi mahirap pumunta sa mga regional office na kailangang puntahan paminsan-minsan,” Marcos. Jr. added.