President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday distributed over PHP288 million in assistance to individuals affected by the dry spell in Western Visayas.

Marcos visited San Jose de Buenavista, Antique to turn over farm machinery and equipment, as well as cash assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families, as part of his promise to provide relief to all Filipinos greatly affected by the extreme drought during the El Niño months.

Marcos distributed PHP10,000 each to 50 select beneficiaries from Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, and Aklan.

Likewise, the five provincial governments received the following substantial amount: PHP50 million each to Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan, while PHP28,410,000 was given to Guimaras.

“Magtiwala po kayo na sisikapin naming maabot ang ating mga liblib na pamayanan sa bawat sulok ng bansa nang sa gayon ay walang maiiwanan at mawalang mahuhuli, at sama-sama tayong maglalakbay patungo sa Bagong Pilipinas (Trust that we will strive to reach our remote communities in every corner of the country so that no one will be left behind, and together we will journey toward the New Philippines),” Marcos said in his speech.

Other government agencies also distributed aid such as cash assistance worth PHP10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to 10,000 select recipients.

Each attendee also received five kilograms of rice from the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. (PNA)