By Mariela Angella Oladive
Around 1,000 farmers and fisherfolk from across Panay, Antique, and Guimaras convened at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Tigbauan, Iloilo, to receive livelihood and medical assistance amid the ongoing El Niño challenges.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez led the event, distributing P3,000 to each of the affected individuals from localities such as Oton, Miagao, San Joaquin, Guimbal, and beyond.
The assistance program was part of a broader initiative to reinforce the resilience of agricultural workers facing climate-related adversities.
In addition to financial aid, beneficiaries availed themselves of complimentary health services, including medical check-ups and diagnostic tests, facilitated by the Bantay Kalusugan Program of Tingog Party-list Representative Yedda Romualdez.
Speaker Romualdez reaffirmed the government’s dedication to supporting the agricultural sector, reinforcing the administration’s view that “food security is national security.”
The gathering also featured the introduction of the Farm-to-Market Road Development Plan (House Bill No. 7402) by the Department of Agriculture and a commitment signing for the bill. This infrastructure project aims to streamline the delivery of agricultural products to markets, benefiting producers and consumers alike.
“I am delighted that the FMR takes precedence in our development plans, being the sector with the largest budget allocation,” Romualdez said.
A farmer from Antique expressed her thanks, recognizing the bill as a significant boost for transporting goods to market more efficiently.
“It’s a great help for us farmers, especially in making it easier for us to bring our products to the market,” she said.
The event also saw the presence of several notable figures, including Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin, Iloilo 5th District Representative Raul C. Tupas, Lone District Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda, Uswag Ilonggo Party-list’s James Ang, AAMBIS-OWA Party-list’s Lex Colada, Ako-Bicol Party List Representative Elizaldy Co, and several mayors from various towns in Iloilo.
