SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines — The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through the collaboration of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (OPDRRMO), and Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO), has completed the distribution of P3,000 cash assistance to 1,047 earthquake-affected farmers across four municipalities in the province.
The initial phase of the program previously covered 298 farmer-beneficiaries from Tupi, Polomolok, and Tampakan at the Tupi Gymnasium. While the final release of the payout officially wrapped up in the municipality of Tboli, benefiting validated farming families in Barangay Maan and Barangay Poblacion.
According to Raul D. Teves, DVM, Provincial Agriculturist of OPAg South Cotabato, the release of funds was organized to provide timely relief to local agricultural workers whose daily livelihoods were severely disrupted by the recent earthquake.
“While this assistance serves as an immediate relief measure, its primary objective is to help our earthquake-stricken farmers to rebuild their livelihoods and restore economic stability in their agricultural communities.” Dr. Teves emphasized.
The financial support was sourced from the national government extended to South Cotabato following the province’s declaration of a State of Calamity in the wake of the disaster.
Elias O. Diamante, Jr., Agriculturist I, said that the multi-agency relief initiative was executed under OPSWDO’s social assistance program, with funding coordination by OPDRRMO and agricultural beneficiary targeting led by OPAg.
“Qualified recipients across all participating municipalities were identified through joint field assessments and validations conducted by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) alongside with OPAg South Cotabato.” Diamante said.
Diamante added, “This program represents an integrated effort across our provincial offices, wherein OMAg and OPAg leads beneficiary selection, social assistance program by OPSWDO, and OPDRRMO facilitates the calamity fund coordination from the national government.”
With the conclusion of the payout operations in Tboli, all 1,047 verified agricultural beneficiaries across the four LGUs have now received their individual cash grants to assist in their ongoing post-disaster recovery.
