Kidapawan farmers get 2,000 sacks of rice

MANILA, Philippines – At least 2,000 sacks of rice have been distributed to around 1,000 farmers who joined a rally in Kidapawan City in Cotabato last week.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the distribution of rice, which was agreed during a recent meeting of DSWD regional officials and the protesters would benefit around 4,000 families.

The protesters had demanded that 15,000 bags of rice be distributed to North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City to mitigate the impact of El Niño on their crops.  

Bai Zorahayda Taha, DSWD-Region 12 director, said beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps would be asked to help in repacking and distributing the 25-kilos-per-pack rice. These beneficiaries will receive P207 a day.

The DSWD regional office partnered with the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples and church-based groups to ensure that tribal communities will also get their share. 

“We are optimistic that the rallyists will not return to the streets anymore,” Taha said. 

The DSWD said 98,000 bags of rice have been released to four provinces as of Friday.

Meanwhile, the DSWD allocated P6.3 million worth of livelihood assistance to farmers affected by the dry spell in Zamboanga City.

Over 6,000 farmers were affected while damage to crops was estimated at P24 million, according to the city agriculture office.

The city government said 3,000 farmers would initially benefit from the cash-for-work program of the DSWD.  The first batch of beneficiaries started their work on Tuesday.

Beneficiaries will receive P210 per day for cleaning irrigation canals, desilting rivers, repairing farm-to-market roads and planting mangrove seedlings in coastal areas. – With Roel Pareño