CANDABA -- Some 6,860 farmers affected by the recent Typhoon Nona received P17.8 million in assistance from the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
This came after some 13,897.23 hectares of newly planted and ready-to-harvest palay, corn and vegetables in the six municipalities of the fourth district have been recently inundated by floodwaters from the said typhoon. Candaba farmers were among the most heavily affected in the recent flooding.
The financial assistance came after the Sanguniang Panlalawigan approved Resolution No. 4136 on December 18 last year. The farmer beneficiaries were given P1,300 each per hectare of land devastated to recover from losses. Farmers can claim assistance from up to a maximum of five hectares.
Vice Governor Dennis Delta Pineda together with Candaba officials and Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr, Board Member Gerome Tubig, and Santo Tomas Vice Mayor Mark Arceo led the distribution of the said assistance to 1,862 farmers at the Candaba Trade Center.
These farmer beneficiaries came from the barangays of Barit, Paligui, Dulong Ilog, Pangclara, Talang, Vizal San Pablo, and Vizal Sto. Nino, San Agustin, Paralaya, Gulap, Lanang, Pansinao, Bambang, Mandasig, Pasig, Sto. Rosario and Bahay Pare.
The vice governor said that Governor Pineda wants to provide utmost support to affected farmers hoping they could restore and recover their livelihood and start a new beginning.
In a short program during the distribution, Mayor Rene Maglanque expressed gratitude to Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda, Vice Governor Delta and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the show of concern to the most highly affected farmers.
It was learned that upon receiving reports of losses from affected farmers, the governor and the vice governor jointly asked the members of the provincial board to immediately approve the needed budget for the provision of financial assistance.
Former town Councilor Romy Reyes, a farmer beneficiary who is entitled to get P6, 500 for his 5-hectare submerged rice field, said they are very thankful to Nanay Governor and his son- Vice Governor Delta for the financial assistance. He said the the aid is a big help so they could recover from their losses.
The group of the vice governor is also set to give assistance and reach out to the remaining 1,944 affected farmers from the Kapampangan Region of this town and other affected municipalities.
A total of 3,086 farmer recipients here shall receive a total amount of P10, 465,065.
The 126 rice farmers from the nine barangays of Magalang shall receive P309, 465; 437 from 16 barangays of Arayat to get P990, 054 for palay and 289 corn farmers from 8 barangays to get P479, 700; 651 from 11 barangays of Apalit to receive P1, 203,800; 966 from 12 barangays of San Luis will get P1, 676,350 and 585 farmers from 14 barangays of San Simon shall be given P1, 676,350 with a total of P7, 308,639.
The distribution was facilitated by Angelina Blanco, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Edilberto Salenga, head of the Provincial Agriculture Office (OPA) and the staff of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office led by Susan Luna.