El Niño victims in Capiz get rice aid: DSWD
Rice distribution to Capiz farmers affected by the El Niño has already been completed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 said in a press release.
DSWD 6 records show that 1,039 sacks of rice for Capiz were distributed as of the last week of June.
In Negros Occidental, 919 sacks of rice were released also equivalent to 100 percent distribution.
Meanwhile, 1,698 sacks of rice were distributed in Iloilo with a balance of 51 sacks for release while 3,032 sacks were given to Aklan, with a balance of 1,155 sacks.
“This is the national government’s program to mitigate hunger among victims of El Niño. With the El Niño, there are many farmers who have difficulty providing food for their families. This is our way of responding to them,” DSWD 6 Director Minda Brigoli sad.
Brigoli said the rice distribution, which has 7,894 beneficiaries, is done in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross.
There 4,187 beneficiaries from Aklan; 1,749 from Iloilo; 1,039 from Capiz and 919 from Negros Occidental.
In Aklan, Balete has 643 beneficiaries; Buruanga, 311; Libacao, 2,078 and Madalag, 1,155. In Iloilo, Carles has 1,524 beneficiaries while San Rafael has 225.
In Capiz, Maayon has 325 beneficiaries; Pilar, 252; and Tapaz, 462. In Negros Occidental, Bacolod City has 101 beneficiaries; Binalbagan, 89; Candoni, 239; EB Magalona, 47; Hinobaan, 87; Isabela, 30; Manapla, 93; Murcia, 54; and Toboso, 179;
The Presidential Task Force on El Niño has allocated P500 million to DSWD for rice assistance to poor farmers, fisher folks and indigenous people in 48 provinces. The fund will be used to provide one sack of rice each to 380,000 poor farmers.
“Most of the rice recipients are also beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who are farmers affected by El Niño. The Department of Agriculture responds to the others who are not 4Ps beneficiaries,” Brigoli said.
The DSWD is monitoring the distribution of rice down to the barangays, she said.
“We are doing this smarter, faster, better and together. Our day care workers, municipal social workers and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams are seeing to it that the rice subsidies go the intended beneficiaries,“ Brigoli added.
