Some 3,558 farmers and fisherfolks from Pangasinan and Region I were the latest recipients of financial assistance and loan condonation certificates from the national government in a distribution ceremony personally led by the Philippine President.
In his first visit to Pangasinan as President, His Excellency Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr, personally handed out checks worth Php 10,000 and other agricultural support system to the beneficiaries who assembled at the Narciso Ramos Gymnasium in Lingayen town on July 19, 2024.
“Alam natin na naging matindi ang pinsala ng nagdaang El Nino sa kabuhayan ninyong lahat…Bilang pasalamat at ganti sa ipinamalas ninyong dedikasyon, katatagan at pagmamahal para sa bayan, pumarito po kami upang maghandog ng kaunting tulong na magpapagaan sa hinaharap ninyong hamon,” President Marcos said.
The country’s chief executive went on to enumerate the various government agencies that have pooled their resources together to help the agricultural workers.
Aside from the P10,000 from the Office of the President, the beneficiaries also received cash from DSWD, five sacks of rice from the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez; farm machineries and equipment like hauling trucks, corn sheller, recirculating dryer, hammer mill, pump and engine, riding transplanter and combine harvester from the Department of Agriculture; Agri negosyo loan program; motorized boats from BFAR; P8-million worth of projects from DTI; P20-M from DOLE; scholarship grants and starter tool kits from TESDA.
“ Magtulungan tayo upang bumuo ng matatag na kinabukasan kung saan ang bawat magsasaka, mangingisda at pamilyang Pilpino ay may kakayahang bumangon mula sa kahirapan at mapaunlad ang kanilang buhay,” President Marcos said.
The Philippine president said another ‘special gift’ for the farmers is the granting of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage which frees the farmers from their long term loan, as initiated by the President with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary the President and DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III.
“Ang mga certificates na ito ay simbolo ng katuparan ng ating pangako na buburahin natin ang pagkakautang ng ating mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries dito sa Region 1,” Marcos added.
The provincial government of Pangasinan, along with the three other provinces of Region I, also received financial assistance for the agriculture sector. Pangasinan Governor Ramon ‘Mon-Mon’ Guico III received the check worth P48.76 million as he thanked the President for the visit and all the support he showered to Pangasinan and Region I.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan State University officials are humbled to be part of the visit. PSU President Dr. Elbert M. Galas and Vice President Ian D. Evangelista of the Local and International Affairs, along with Public Relations Director Venus H. Sarmiento were present to witness and give gratitude to the Chief Executive. They were joined by former PSU President and now Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Dr. Dexter R. Buted.
Thank you President Bongbong Marcos for your
visit to our beloved province of Pangasinan!
#PBBMinPangasinan
