By Xander Ledesma
A total of 2, 700 farmers in Antique received cash assistance on Monday as part of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) program. This initiative aims to support farmers affected by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
The distribution, which took place at the Binirayan Gymnasium, was led by Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, who expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for responding to her request for assistance. The cash aid, amounting to PHP 10, 000 per recipient, will help ease the burden on farmers struggling due to the prolonged dry season.
“This assistance is a direct result of my appeal to President Marcos, and I am thankful for his support for our farmers,” Governor Cadiao said in an interview.
A total of 5, 000 farmers in the province are set to receive aid, with the initial distribution benefiting farmers from the towns of Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, Sibalom, Valderrama, and Barbaza. The remaining recipients will receive their assistance on November 12 and 13 in the municipalities of Bugasong and San Remigio.
Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta highlighted the timeliness of the assistance, especially for farmers preparing for the second cropping season.
Raquel Esteves, a 66-year-old farmer from Barangay Maasin in Sibalom, shared that she plans to use the cash to purchase fertilizer and other farming essentials. “The assistance will help us cover the costs of farm inputs, which we rely on since we were affected by the El Niño phenomenon,” she said.
Similarly, Anacleto Sembran, 65, a farm tenant from Tobias Fornier, expressed his gratitude for the timely support. “This assistance is a huge help to us farmers,” he said, underscoring the impact of the aid on their livelihoods.