Marcos, First Lady visit Zambo, distribute aid

ZAMBOANGA CITY - President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Marie Louise Marcos arrived here on Thursday to distribute aid to poor families affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

Screenshots from RTVM show President Ferdinand Marcos speaking in Zamboanga City on May 9, 2024. (Al Jacinto)

Security was tight inside and around the Universidad de Zamboanga Summit Center in the village of Tetuan where thousands of residents flocked to avail of the "Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program.' The Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed P10,000 each to some 10,000 farmers and fishermen who were beneficiaries of the program.

Marcos likewise extended P10 million in aid to the city government of Zamboanga; P14.260 million to Zamboanga del Norte; P14.350 million to Zamboanga del Sur; and P20.300 million to Zamboanga Sibugay. Also, 10 beneficiaries each from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay received P10,000. Also given were P10,000 each to 10,000 farmers and fishermen. The help was from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The president thanked local residents for their warm welcome. "Alam niyo po sa kabila ng init ng panahon ay may nadama ko ang mainit niynong pagtanggap sa akin dito sa siyudad ng Zamboanga. Maraming salamat po. Nandito po ako upang personal na masiguro na makarating ang mga tulong ng gobyerno sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan, lalong-lalo na ngayon panahon ng krisis," he said.

The Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez also handed over five kilos of rice to all the attendees.

The DSWD also implement its Cash for Work Program in Zamboanga del Norte (Godod, Gutalac, Jose Dalman, Siayan, and Sibuco towns), and Zamboanga Sibugay (Imelda), extending P21,907,500 in cash benefits.

In addition, the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair will be launched in Zamboanga City, the first in Region IX on May 10-11. Also, 49 national government agencies shall offer over 405 different kinds of services to around 107,000 beneficiaries. At the same time, PhP456 million worth of programs and services will be provided to beneficiaries, with PhP178 million to be given in cash.

The DSWD will also carry out a city-wide payout extending P145 million to over 56,000 individual beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations. Other province-wide activities include LAB for ALL services, scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Commission on Higher Education and livelihood assistance for various sectors.

The government has so far distributed various aids to communities affected by the dry spell. Two municipalities and one city out of 67 municipalities and five cities in the Zamboanga Peninsula have been placed under a state of calamity due to huge losses incurred as a result of El Niño. A total of 66,878 families or 334,391 persons in 165 out of 1,904 villages were affected.

The Office of First Lady also brought in the Laboratoryo, Konsulta at Gamot para sa Lahat (Lab For All) Caravan to facilitate the families’ medical and health needs at the Western Mindanao State University gymnasium highlighting the administration’s advocacy to bring essential government programs and services closer to the people, alongside the ‘Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair’ by the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

According to the local government, a memorandum of understanding was forged by the city government and Public- Private Partnership Center Director Eleazar Ricote to strengthen partnership in the implementation of PPP projects to promote economic development here. The event, held at the Garden Orchid Hotel highlighted the launching of the Urban Connect x LocalLab, an initiative of USAID-Urban Connect Project and Liveable Cities Philippines.

This partnership aims to boost local economic development and enhance public service delivery in these cities. Through LocalLab, each city will showcase innovative projects, engage stakeholders, and connect with potential partners and visitors, including local governments nationwide to share practical solutions to urgent development challenges. (Mindanao Examiner)