In line with his advocacy of helping Filipinos recover from the pandemic as well as natural disasters, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has again extended assistance to almost 400 farmers in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental who are still reeling from the extreme weather conditions that had affected the area last year.
The farmers, who are members of the Misamis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, each received P2,500 in capital under Cayetano’s Presyo-Trabaho-Kita/Kaayusan (PTK) initiative.
The distribution was conducted in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) program, in coordination with the Provincial Farmers’ Action Council (PFAC) as well as the local government units of Misamis Occidental headed by Governor Henry Oaminal, Ozamiz City Mayor Indy Oaminal Jr., and 2nd District Rep. Ando Oaminal.
The cooperative became a member of the PTK community in 2018 when Cayetano first provided them with P250,000 in seed capital, which the farmers used to buy fertilizers, palay cultivation inputs, and other farm needs.
MFMPC Chairman Anselmo Econg Jr. said they intend to use the latest assistance for the same purpose, especially as they are still recovering from the damages in their crops brought about by the flash floods and landslides caused by a shear line in December last year.
“Malaking tulong [ito], kasi dito sa Misamis Occidental malaki ang naging pinsala sa mga palayan namin way back December kasi natamaan kami ng shear line, na-damage lahat ng palayan namin,” Econg said.
He expressed gratitude for the program which he said enabled them to continue farming.
The PTK is a decade-old initiative of Cayetano in which he provides sectors across the country with easy access to capital for their livelihood, consequently preventing them from falling into debt traps.
“Itong initiative ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano ay para talaga sa maliliit na gustong umasenso pero walang kakayahan na [umutang] sa bangko, mga [tulad naming] walang business identity at hindi kilala sa bangko,” Econg said.
Also present in the program were Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Bebie Neri; Department of Agriculture Region 10 Supervision and Examination Chief Edwin B. Pelosas; National Food Authority Iligan City Assistant Branch Manager Engr. Esmeraldo Bantigue Jr.; Iligan Lending Center – DBP Iligan City Head Roy C. Urbiztondo; Philippine Coconut Authority Misamis Occidental’s Rolland Callo; DSWD Region 10 Assistant Regional Director Ronald Ryan Cui; and Pastor Don Pacheco.
