By Mariela Angella Oladive
Just in time with the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, a total of 2,000 female farmers and solo parents in Guimaras province were granted financial assistance amounting to P3,000 each.
The initiative, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), was facilitated through the efforts of Senator Imee Marcos who were personally present during the distribution.
“It’s Women’s Day, so sakto man at mga kababaihan ang ating recipients. Gamay lang ini nga bulig but bulig sa gihapon,” said Marcos during a press conference following the event.
(It’s Women’s Day, so it’s fitting that our recipients are women. This assistance may be small, but it’s still assistance nonetheless)
The beneficiaries hailed from the municipalities of Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag.
The distribution took place at the provincial covered gym in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.
70-year-old Pacita Villanueva, a farmer for 40 years, shared the significance of the aid amid challenges of dwindling crop yields due to extreme weather conditions.
“Gapasalamat kami sang dako kay makabulig man sya bisan paano sa amon nga pagpanguma, ilabi na sa amo ni nga pangadlaw. Ang amon nga pirde sa third cropping, indi na gani kami ka patubas, kay wala na kami kuhaon tungod sa tuman ka init nga nagaapekto sa amon humay. Subong husto na lang kami makakwa sang apat ka sako nga patubas, ti kulang pa gani makabulig sa abono,” told Villanueva to Daily Guardian.
(We are very thankful because this [financial assistance] can provide relief to us, especially in this climate. Our loss during our third cropping, we can’t even harvest due to the extreme heat that’s affecting our crops. Now, we can only harvest up to four sacks which is not enough even for the fertilizer alone)
Similarly, Ramonita Tabiano, a 72-year-old farmer from Sibunag municipality, with over 50 years of farming experience expressed how the cash assistance is a big help, stating she can use it to buy her medicines.
Meanwhile, Gov. Joaquin Carlos Nava together with other key officials extended their gratitude to the Senator for coming to the province and gave support to the local community.
The senator, on the other hand, noting how Guimaras has been outgrown by population and development, pledged to assist the province in improving and modernizing its key infrastructures, such as enhancing the roro system, hospitals, and the capitol building, among others.
“Tulong-tulong tayo. Buligan ta kamo kahit papano sa Senado para ma-update, ma-modernize, at ma-enhance ang mga imprastruktura diri,” Marcos said.
(Let’s work together. We’ll help you as much as we can in the Senate to update, modernize, and enhance the infrastructure here)
