CAPIZ – The provincial government, through its Task Force Pagdumdum program, conducted a two-day relief distribution from July 9 to 10, providing essential goods to residents of seven coastal towns who were affected by unfavorable sea conditions.
Task Force Pagdumdum is part of the province’s expanded anti-poverty measures and aims to assist fishing communities whose livelihoods are temporarily disrupted by rough seas.
The relief effort covered the municipalities of Panay, Pontevedra, Pilar, President Roxas, and Roxas City in the 1st District, and Sapian and Ivisan in the 2nd District.
Spearheaded annually by the provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Fredenil H. Castro, the program seeks to support coastal residents, especially small-scale fishers, who are among the most vulnerable during times of inclement weather.
More than 1,000 fisherfolk benefited in each town. In Ivisan, for instance, the recipients included 425 from Barangay Cabugao, 450 from Basiao, and 125 from Balaring. In Sapian, a total of 1,000 fishermen received food packs and rice. The beneficiaries came from barangays Poblacion (109), Maninang (58), Dapdapan (74), Mahanlod (78), Bilao (54), Damayan (27), Agtatacay Sur (99), Agtatacay Norte (69), Agsilab (85), and Lonoy (347).
In Panay, 1,000 more fishermen from Barangay Pawa also received food aid including sardines, noodles, and sacks of rice.
In Pontevedra, beneficiaries came from 19 barangays and 20 fisherfolk associations, including Ameligan (52 beneficiaries), Binuntukan, Rizal, and Manapaw. The municipalities of President Roxas and Pilar reported similar numbers of recipients.
On July 10, Roxas City was the final stop for the two-day relief mission. A total of 391 fishermen from Punta Tabuc, Cagay, Talon, Barra, Dayao, Libas, and Balijuagan received aid during the distribution held at the San Isidro Labrador covered gym in Barangay Cagay.
Later that day, another 609 fishermen from Tanza, Punta Cogon, Cogon, Gabuan, Baybay, Culasi, Tanque, Dumulog, Culajao, and Mongpong received their share at the Dumulog covered gym.
This continuing initiative demonstrates the provincial government’s strong commitment to public service, particularly in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities during periods of economic hardship and environmental uncertainty./PN
