Govt gives ₧100-M El Niño aid to Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended over P100 million worth of presidential assistance to Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato to help them cope with the effects of El Niño.

Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu and Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza each received over P50 million from the chief executive during the ceremonial turnover at the Sultan Kudarat Sports and Cultural Center on Friday.

“So this is the goal of my visit here. Not just to bring help but also the commitment that the government will be with you in combating the harsh effects caused by El Niño,” Marcos said in Filipino in his speech at the event.

Each of the affected farmers and fisherfolk also received P10,000 worth of presidential assistance besides the other forms of aid they received from the other government agencies.

Among the interventions are the seedlings, fertilizers, pumping equipment and other agricultural machineries and the P5,000 financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-rice Farmers Financial Assistance; and the P10,000 financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also released P4,000 cash assistance each to 583 beneficiaries under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued P940,000 worth of certificate grants to three farm agricultural groups, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) distributed 21 livelihood toolkits and allowances to their scholars.

Marcos said he hopes the interventions will help in the swift recovery of both provinces from the dry spell and drought from El Niño.

Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato were among seven provinces which declared a State of Calamity (SOC) as of April 30, 2024 so they can tap their calamity funds to help their El Niño-affected constituents.

The other provinces under SOC are Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Basilan, Maguindanao Del Sur, and Maguindanao Del Norte.