Emergency cash transfer assistance provided to El Niño-hit farmers

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday said that it has already started providing emergency cash transfer (ECT) assistance to farmers who were affected by the potentially strong El Niño.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said financial assistance have been given in parts of the country including Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region.

"Sa Region 2, particularly sa Isabela and Cagayan, kasi may mga farmers din tayo doon, particularly corn and rice farmers na naapektuhan din...In fact, for Region 2 alone, ang total humanitarian assistance na na-provide sa kanila ay nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P141 million. Ayan ay binubuo ng emergency cash transfers at family food packs," she said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(In Region 2, particularly in Isabela and Cagayan, because we also have farmers there, particularly corn and rice farmers who were affected... In fact, for Region 2 alone, the total humanitarian assistance provided to them is valued at over P141 million. That consists of emergency cash transfers and family food packs.)

The department said that ECT distribution to farmers in municipalities in Camarines Norte is ongoing.

"Noong isang araw, Capalonga, Camarines Norte, kung saan namahagi tayo ng emergency cash transfer para sa mga magsasaka na nasalanta ang kanilang mga pananim dahil sa nararanasang tagtuyot," said Dumlao.

(The other day, in Capalonga, Camarines Norte, where we distributed emergency cash transfers to farmers whose crops were destroyed due to the current drought.)

"So doon sa Capalonga at Paracale, umabot ng sa mahigit P31 million na napamahagi nating na tulong pinansyal sa pamamagit ng Field Office V," she added.

(So there in Capalonga and Paracale, the financial assistance we distributed through Field Office V reached over P31 million.)

The DSWD noted that several farmers have already stopped farming, hence, the cash assistance has been a big help to them.

"Some farmers actually na-discourage na, hindi na po nagtanim. sabi nila masasayang yung kanilang efforts," said Dumlao.

(Some farmers actually got discouraged and no longer planted crops. They said their efforts would just go to waste.)

The DSWD said that over 191,000 families are affected by El Niño, which could persist until early next year, in several regions. These regions are Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

More than P189 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been distributed so far, the DSWD official added.

The Department of Agriculture earlier said that it will coordinate with Department of Labor and Employment for the temporary employment of El Niño-affected farmers through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

The DA is also proposing a P61.99-billion action plan to mitigate the impact of El Niño on the country’s food supply and livelihoods. —RF, GMA News