Negros Occidental governor to return PAFFF excess fund

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced that he will return the excess funds from the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolks, and Families (PAFFF) to the national government.

Lacson told reporters Thursday that all areas have already been covered.

Lacson received a P50 million PAFFF fund from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the latter’s recent visit to aid farmers and fisherfolks affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

So far, he said more than P43.8 million has been distributed out of the P50 million.

Those who have not received assistance will need to go to the provincial capitol to claim it.

“What is important is we met the deadline, which is Friday,” he added.

Lacson commended the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office for distributing the assistance on time.

On Wednesday, farmer-beneficiaries from Cauayan, Candoni, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Kabankalan City, and Sipalay City in the 6th district received a total of P18,850,000 in financial assistance as part of the PAFFF for Negros Occidental.

Lacson led the ceremonial distribution of P10,000 each to 1,885 farmers in a program held at Ilog Covered Court, together with Board Members Jeffrey Tubola and Manuel Frederick Ko, and Dr. Dina Genzola, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist OIC, among others.

The Provincial Government also distributed food packs to all beneficiaries.

On Tuesday, Lacson led the distribution of P7,290,000 in PAFFF assistance to beneficiaries in the Fifth District of Negros Occidental at the Himamaylan City gym.

The beneficiaries were from Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Isabela, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla.

With the governor were Fifth District Board Members Rita Gatuslao and Anton Occeño, Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. and Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, and Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla.

Earlier, Lacson distributed PAFFF aid to the first batch of recipients from the first district of the province.

A total of P12,430,000 in financial assistance was distributed to farmers from the municipalities of Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Toboso, and the cities of Escalante and San Carlos on Wednesday, July 17.

Each of the 1,243 farmers in these localities received P10,000.

The second batch includes farmers and fisherfolk from the fourth district of the province, including Bago City, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid. A total of P5,350,000 was distributed to PAFFF beneficiaries at the Bago City Coliseum on Thursday.