Over 7K El Niño-affected farmers, fisherfolk in Antique to get aid

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – A total of 7,067 farmers and fisherfolk from Antique severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon are recipients of financial assistance during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to this province on Thursday.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Television Dale De Vera said on Wednesday the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisher Folks (PAFF) is downloaded from the Office of the President to help the affected sectors with their livelihood.

"Each farmer and fisherfolk will receive P10,000 assistance," he said during a media briefing.

In addition to the cash aid, they will receive 10 kilos of rice from House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao.

There will also be a ceremonial turnover of assistance to other provinces in Western Visayas, particularly from Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

"Throughout Western Visayas, there will be a total of 61,171 beneficiaries," De Vera said.

Antique was the first province in Western Visayas to declare a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño.

President Marcos is visiting Antique on Thursday for the third time. He first visited the province on Nov. 8, 2022, to check on the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng and on Oct. 6, 2023, to distribute rice assistance to Antiqueños. (PNA)