MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started distributing emergency cash transfer (ECT) assistance to farmers suffering from the impacts of the ongoing dry spell.
Speaking in a radio interview on Sunday, DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao noted that financial aid and relief items have been extended to vulnerable agricultural workers across multiple hard-hit regions, including Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region.
“Sa Region 2, particularly sa Isabela and Cagayan, kasi may mga farmers din tayo doon, particularly corn and rice farmers na naapektuhan din…In fact, for Region 2 alone, ang total humanitarian assistance na na-provide sa kanila ay nagkakahalaga ng mahigit ₱141 million. Ayan ay binubuo ng emergency cash transfers at family food packs,” Dumlao said in an interview with DZBB.
The DSWD is also actively rolling out cash distributions in municipalities within Camarines Norte.
“Noong isang araw, Capalonga, Camarines Norte, kung saan namahagi tayo ng emergency cash transfer para sa mga magsasaka na nasalanta ang kanilang mga pananim dahil sa nararanasang tagtuyot,” Dumlao stated.
“So doon sa Capalonga at Paracale, umabot ng sa mahigit ₱31 million na napamahagi nating na tulong pinansyal sa pamamagit ng Field Office V,” she added.
According to Dumlao, the severity of the dry spell has discouraged several agricultural workers from planting, making government financial support a vital lifeline.
“Some farmers actually na-discourage na, hindi na po nagtanim. sabi nila masasayang yung kanilang efforts,” she explained.
Government data shows that over 191,000 families have been affected by El Niño across regions such as Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga. Cumulative humanitarian assistance distributed nationwide has already exceeded ₱189 million.
To further cushion the crisis, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced plans to partner with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide temporary jobs for affected farmers via the TUPAD program, alongside a proposed ₱61.99-billion action plan to secure the country’s food supply.