President Ferdinand Marcos Jr flew to Sulu Friday to distribute over P10 million in cash assistance to El Niño-hit farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

“Nawa’y ang tulong na dala namin ngayon ay magpalakas sa inyong mga kabuhayan at magpatibay pa lalo sa inyo bilang isang lalawigan,” Marcos Jr. said in his speech at the Sulu Provincial Gymnasium in Patikul.

“Hindi namin kayo iiwan sa pagharap sa pagsubok na ito, kaya kami ay [magbabahagi] ng ayuda upang makabangon kayong muli at higit pang mapayabong ang inyong pamumuhay.”

According to government data, the dry spell due to El Niño destroyed more than P5.3 million worth of crops in the Sulu, causing losses to some 912 farmers.

During the program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended P10,000 each to more than 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk through the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program.

The Office of the House Speaker and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao–Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform also extended government assistance by providing rice as well as farm machineries and equipment

The President also noted that the government is working to begin the construction of the Jolo Airport Development Project.

“Kasalukuyan na po nating binabalangkas ang lahat ng kinakailangan para masimulan na ang proyektong ito at may nakahanda po tayong isandaang milyong piso na para pagsimulan nitong project na ito,” he said.

Authorities are also working to address the ongoing illegal fishing activites in the Sulu Sea, Marcos said.

“Umaaksyon na po ang ating kapulisan sa pangunguna ng Sulu Maritime Police Station upang magpatrolya at mabantayan ang ating yamang-dagat. Sa ating mga lokal na pamahalaan, patuloy po ninyong suportahan ang ating kolektibong pagsisikap upang maging mas maayos at ligtas ang ating mga minamahal na mangingisda,” he said.