Government agencies delivered nearly PHP568.7 million worth of assistance and services to Ilonggos during the “Handog ng Pangulo” caravan Monday.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, who led the activity in Iloilo marking President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s birthday, said the nationwide initiative brought government services closer to communities, including health care, employment, education, agriculture, fisheries and support for small businesses.
Garin said the government is providing more than PHP2.83 billion in assistance and services nationwide, with Iloilo accounting for at least PHP568.7 million.
She urged Ilonggos to take advantage of the programs to help their families, find jobs and secure their future.
“Patuloy po tayong magtulungan upang makabuo ng mas magandang kinabukasan para sa bawat Pilipino (Let us continue to help each other to create a better future for Filipinos),” she said.
Agriculture programs accounted for the biggest share of the assistance in Iloilo, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies turning over PHP473.556 million in interventions for rice, corn, high-value crops and livestock.
DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia said the assistance forms part of the PHP1.168 billion allocated for the region.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also released more than PHP10.98 million for beneficiaries of emergency employment, government internships, the Special Program for Employment of Students, the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program and the Adjustment Measures Program.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development turned over support for its supplementary feeding program to 13 local government units, benefiting 7,100 children, and began the payout of the second tranche of its Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance Program.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. thanked Marcos and reaffirmed the province’s support for the administration’s programs and projects.
“We are totally aligned with the direction of Bagong Pilipinas. We do our best to have local counterparts to your programs and projects in the national government. We look forward to working closely with the administration,” Defensor said.
About 22 government agencies participated in the activity. (PNA)
