SOME P10.24 million in financial assistance was received by the three municipalities in Bantayan Island from the Cebu Provincial Government.
Of the amount, some P392,200 in indemnity aid was given to farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon that hit the province last summer.
The distribution of financial assistance was among the events Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia attended to while in Bantayan Island from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, 2019.
The municipal governments of Bantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos received P2.9 million, P1.3 million and P2.2 million, respectively. The aid is for the towns’ development projects and socio-cultural activities.
Earlier, the governor had announced plans to revive cultural and heritage activities in component cities, towns and barangays, especially during fiestas.
The Capitol gave indemnity assistance to farmers as their livelihood was affected by this year’s long dry spell, which started in February and ended in August.
Farmers in Bantayan got P331,000, while those from Sta. Fe and Madridejos received P28,000 and P33,200, respectively.
Last April, some 350 hectares of seaweed farms in Bantayan and Sta. Fe suffered at least P28 million worth of damage brought about by the weak El Niño.
Seaweeds planted by 2,550 seaweed growers in the two towns were affected by the ice-ice disease, which was caused by changes in salinity, ocean temperature and light intensity.
Small and medium businesses in Madridejos received P3.38 million in funding support for their livelihood projects such as rice retailing, catering and rental services, fish dealerships, mini groceries, chicken dealerships, fishing gear supplies and shellcraft enterprises.
During her two-day visit to the island, Garcia promised residents of Sta. Fe and Madridejos that the Capitol will provide cooling systems and other improvements for their gymnasiums. (RTF)