Farmers, fisherfolk protest PAFFF exclusion

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Some farmers and fisherfolk gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) yesterday after they failed to avail themselves of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).

Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met them outside the Mayor’s Office and listened to their concerns.

These farmers and fisherfolk came from Barangays Banago, Singcang-Airport, and other villages.

One concern raised was the non-inclusion of their names in PAFFF, questioning the qualification process and the selection of some beneficiaries.

The mayor emphasized that beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as 4Ps, and those who have availed themselves of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) in the past three months are not qualified, as well as job order casual employees.

The farmers and fisherfolk told the mayor that some residents in their respective villages received the assistance despite not meeting the requirements.

Benitez advised them to submit their names with certification from their barangay and association so the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can validate their identification to enable them to receive assistance from the national government.

Last week, 4,000 Bacolodnons affected by the El Niño phenomenon received P10,000 each from PAFFF in a ceremonial distribution led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) football field.

Additionally, the President turned over P10 million in monetary support to the city government.