Cash and food aid were distributed by the Department of Agriculture to 40 fisherfolk from the City of San Fernando last Saturday, December 26 at the DMMMSU Mid-La Union Campus. 

Our fisherfolks received 5000 PHP worth of subsidy — 3000 PHP in cash and 2000 PHP in food items such as rice, chicken, and eggs. They were given stubs in order to claim their cash subsidy via a local money transfer service provider. 

Fisherfolks who did not qualify for DOLE and DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program and those who are not members of the 4Ps were selected as the beneficiaries of this Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolk (CFSMFF) Program, which is funded by the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act 2. 

Even just a day after Christmas, Secretary William D. Dar of Department of Agriculture personally attended the distribution program together with City Mayor Hermenegildo A. Gualberto. 

Mayor applauded our fisherfolk and recognized them as our ‘food security frontliners’: “Kayo po ang nagbibigay ng pagkain sa aming mga lamesa sa panahon ng pinahabang krisis na dinaranas ng pamayanan. Kayo ang bumubuhat sa amin kaya patuloy pa rin po tayong nakatayo bilang iisang San Fernando.”

Also present in the program are OIC-Regional Executive Director Nestor D. Domenden of Department of Agriculture Region I, OIC-Regional Director Rosario Segundina P. Gaerlan of DA-BFAR Region 1, DMMMSU President Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, City Councilor Arnel Almazan, City Administrator Gary Glenn Fantastico, OIC-City Agriculturist Joan Pasca, City Fisheries Coordinator Nickson Patrick Tomines, and Godofredo Merca from the Office for Public Safety.

The City Government recognizes the importance of our fisherfolks and the whole agriculture sector in recovering economically as a People’s City where no one is left behind. That is  why, we are working hand in hand with our national government to provide sustainable services to our kakabsat nga mannalon ken mangalap to ensure that they will stand stronger to face the new normal.