MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led on Friday the distribution of various government assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Northern Samar.
In his speech, the President assured the residents and the local officials of Northern Samar that the national government is always ready to provide them with all the assistance that they need as part of his administration’s goal to uplift the lives of the Filipino people nationwide.
Marcos added the government is working hard to help the micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“Nandito po kami para matiyak na ‘yung mga talagang bumagsak, kasi talagang maraming tinamaan nang mabigat, diyan naubos ang kanilang savings, nagsara ang kanilang negosyo, hindi na sila makabalik, ‘yun ang mga hinahanap namin para tulungan dahil ‘yan ang puno’t dulo ng ating ekonomiya, ang mga maliliit na negosyo, ang MSMEs,” the President said.
“Kaya’t kailangan natin pasiglahin at buhayin ‘yang sector na ‘yan. Kaya’t ‘yan po ang aming ginagawa ngunit kagaya ng sabi ko, mayroon pa ring nangangailangan ng tulong kaya tinitiyak din namin, mayroon din kami dito, na makapagbigay ng tulong sa ating mga cooperative,” he added.
President Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, led the distribution of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, one cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors and four rice threshers and four rice cutters.
The President also handed over 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers and P5,000 each in financial assistance to 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar.
The chief executive also led the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) such as the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices or paya, three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds.
Marcos also distributed 20 pieces of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats and mangrove crablets and formulated feeds while the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to the local government unit of Northern Samar.
The chief executive also handed over four infrastructure projects to the provincial local government units of Northern Samar.
The President also distributed financial assistance amounting to Php150,000 to eight distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and scholarship assistance worth Php10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program.
The President also extended medical assistance worth Php30,000 to two beneficiaries under the Welfare Assistance Program and financial assistance worth P20,000 to the bereaved OFW family.
Marcos also graced the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Catarman, Northern Samar held at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court participated by 39 sellers for four farmer associations, 15 DTI Diskwento Caravan exhibitors, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations and LGU exhibitors.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo aims to provide farmers and fisherfolks with a ready market where they can sell quality and affordable agri-fishery commodities directly to consumers.
To date, the Marcos administration has already conducted 7,283 Kadiwa activities, generating P697.87 million in sales and benefiting 1.84 million households and 3,017 farmers' cooperatives and associations and agri-fishery enterprises in the country.
The project is in partnership with the Office of the President, DA, DTI, DDSWD, DOLE, and various local government units.
President Marcos also visited the Job Fair organized by the DOLE at Provincial Capitol Covered Court, Barangay Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar, which was participated by 30 local employers with 328 local vacancies that are up for grabs.
The DTI and the DA also provided special frontline services during the job fair along with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Records from the PSA showed 48.26 million Filipinos were employed as of May 2023, which is 2.18 million higher than the 46.08 million employment rate in the same period last year while the country’s unemployment and underemployment rates dropped in the same period.
The employment rate in Northern Samar improved in 2022. | PND
