By Zaldy De Layola

GOV’T AID. Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel distribute emergency cash assistance to corn farmers affected by dry spell in Isabela in an undated photo. The assistance is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to support the agriculture sector and help farmers affected by calamity. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended assistance to 12,506 farmers affected by a dry spell in Isabela province.

“Dahil sa state of calamity declaration sa probinsya ng Isabela, simula po nung April 14 ay namahagi na ang DSWD Field Office 2-Cagayan Valley ng emergency cash transfer (ECT) sa mga corn farmers na kasalukuyang walang kinikita dahil sa matinding dry spell sa lugar. Ito ay alinsunod na rin sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na suportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura, at tulungan ang mga magsasaka (Because of the state of calamity declaration in the province of Isabela, the DSWD Field Office in Cagayan Valley started distributing ECT to corn farmers on April 14. This is in line with the directives of President Marcos to support the agriculture sector and help the farmers),” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release on Friday.

She said each farmer received PHP10,125 to help them cope with the decrease in corn production due to extreme heat and lack of rain in the province.

The DSWD downloaded PHP358 million for the implementation of the ECT in the provionce.

From April 14 to 21, the DSWD provided emergency cash transfer assistance to 1,909 beneficiaries in Cabagan; 1,383 farmers in Sto. Tomas; 946 farmers in Sta. Maria; 765 beneficiaries in Delfin Albano; 1,510 corn farmers in San Pablo; 1,986 farmers in Benito Soliven; 3,974 beneficiaries in Ilagan City; 33 corn farmers in Aurora; and 253 farmers in Gamu.

The ECT is an adaptive strategy intended to provide unconditional cash assistance to disaster-affected families to aid in their recovery.

Aside from ECT, the Department will also implement the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) in Isabela and Cagayan.

The Project LAWA at BINHI is the DSWD’s flagship initiative that integrates agriculture and climate adaptation to address poverty and hunger.

Under the project, beneficiaries will be provided with cash for work/training as they learn climate-resilient farming practices and other methods to mitigate the effects of the dry spell in their communities. (PNA)