To assist the farmers and fishers of Occidental Mindoro who have suffered greatly from the current dry spell, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and some members of his cabinet visited the province to deliver agri-fishery interventions and other support.

Under the whole of the government approach of the Marcos administration, the President awarded various assistance and extended services to help farmers, fishers and other affected residents recover from their losses. 

According to the President, the national  government, together with the legislators, Cabinet Secretaries, and local government, are united to do everything to help those affected by the El Niño. 

Alongside Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., Pres. Marcos extended various aids to affected farmers including the P3000-worth of fuel subsidy to each of the 393 corn farmers; Rice Farmers Financial Assistance worth P5,000 each to 1,153 affected farmers; compensation for 193 farmers amounting to PHP5.1 million under the El Niño Indemnification Fund of the Philippine Crops Insurance Corporation; and PHP77.5 million worth of loans under the Survival and Recovery Aid program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. 

The DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also awarded seven units of fish aggregating device, 35 sets of bottom-set gill nets and eight units marine engine, amounting to a total of P476,320 to fisher groups and individuals.  

The DA-National Irrigation Administration (NIA) likewise provided PhP7.38 million worth of operations and maintenance subsidy to irrigators’ group; certificate of condonation and exemption worth PhP18.48; and 24 units of solar pump irrigation projects worth PhP50 million to three other groups.

The Departments of Social Welfare and Development; Labor and Employment; Trade and Industry; and Technical Education and Skills Development Administration also provided various assistance. ###