SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: Recipients of the Presidential Assistance for Fisherfolk, Farmers and Families (PAFFF) in the province of Antique could not help but feel grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for personally bringing help as they reel from the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. In an interview, most Antique recipients said they would use their PHP10,000 aid to purchase farm inputs, other agricultural products, and even carabaos to ensure higher production. Farmer Remo Zurriaga, 46 years old, from Pandan, Antique, said he already has funds to buy fertilizers as he has started cultivating his farmland. 'We did not have any rice harvest because of the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon,' he said in dialect in an interview. Espridion Omallao, 65 years old, from San Remigio town, said he would buy a carabao using the PHP10,000 assistance. With the farm animal, he could also help other farmers to till their farmland for free. 'Prior to the El Niño phenomenon, we harvested 25 cavans from ou r one-fourth of a hectare rice land. Because of the lack of water supply, we only harvested 12 cavans in the previous month,' he said. Farmer Rowena de la Torre, 47 years old, said she feels fortunate to be among the 10,000 beneficiaries of the PAFFF. She helps her husband till their half a hectare of rice land in Sibalom town. She said she would use some amount for the school needs of her child, who will be in Grade 6 this coming school opening. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his message, urged the beneficiaries to be prudent in using the assistance they received. The president said he visits different places in the country to ensure no one is left behind regarding development. Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, in her message, said the assistance would have a positive effect on her constituents since the province, the first to declare a state of calamity in Western Visayas, suffered much from the damages of El Niño. 'Before Antique could get the assistance from the national government delayed, but under President Marcos administration it is already fast,' Cadiao said. Senator Loren Legarda, who joined the visit to her home province, said Antiqueños did not make a mistake choosing Marcos for their president and is now looking after their welfare. "I express our sincerest gratitude to President Marcos and to the national government for continuously upholding the welfare of the people," Legarda said. Cabinet Secretaries Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture (DA), and Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government joined President Marcos during the visit. DSWD distributed PHP10,000 cash assistance each to 5,000 beneficiaries of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) for near-poor families. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. turned over ceremonial checks for farm machinery and projects to farmers and fisherfolk associations and cooperatives in Antique, such as a multi-cultivator, several units of power sprayer, fertilizers, and for the construction of a diversion dam in the Municipality of Sebaste. Marcos also turned over PHP50 million each to Governors Arthur Defensor, Jr. of Iloilo, Jose Enrique Miraflores of Aklan, and Ferdenil Castro of Capiz and PHP28.41 million to Governor Joaquin Carlos Nava of Guimaras for their constituents affected by the phenomenon. Source: Philippines News Agency