Marcos distributes aid to El Nino-hit farmers in south

President Marcos was in TawiTawi and Maguindanao del Sur yesterday to distribute aid to farmers and fisherfolk as part of his visits to provinces hardest hit by the El Niño phenomenon, which has so far left 374 areas in the country under a state of calamity.

- ALEXIS ROMERO

In Bongao, Marcos provided more than P20 million in financial aid to sectors affected by El Niño in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan. He turned over P10 million in check to Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali and Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Salliman-Hataman while farmers and fishermen were given P10,000 each.

More than P30 million in cash assistance was given to farmers and fishermen from Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur during the President's visit to Datu Abdullah Sangki.

Marcos handed over P10 million in financial aid each to Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu, Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulraof Macacua and Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also gave P10,000 each to affected farmers and fisherfolk from the three provinces.