CAPIZ — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended emergency cash assistance to sugarcane farmers and workers affected by the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation in Capiz.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro and local officials, led the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to 5,229 affected sugarcane planters and workers in the municipalities of Pilar, President Roxas, and Dao on SeptEMBER 29.
Gatchalian said the assistance was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide support to farmers affected by the infestation.
“At sabi ng ating Presidente BBM, lahat ng farmers na apektado dapat nating tulungan,” Gatchalian said.
The secretary said the DSWD would provide assistance to around 17,000 sugarcane farmers in Capiz.
Among those who received the assistance was Emily Villajuan, a sugarcane planter from Barangay Goce, President Roxas, who expressed gratitude to the President and the DSWD for the financial support.
Villajuan said the assistance would help her recover from losses caused by the RSSI infestation, which significantly affected their sugarcane production.
“Isa ako ka planter sang tubo kag dako gid ang damage ilabi na gid sa amon nga production subong kag masyado gid kami ka perdi dahil sa RSSI,” Villajuan said.
Janet Bacay of Barangay Blasco, Pilar, also thanked the President, Gatchalian, and local officials for the assistance, which she said would help cover her children’s educational expenses and their family’s daily needs.
Villajuan and Bacay were among the first batch of affected planters and workers in Capiz who each received P10,325 on September 29.
For the first batch of distribution from September 29 to October 1, the DSWD will release a total of P105,253,050 to 10,194 RSSI-affected farmers in Capiz.
The assistance is part of the government’s response to the losses suffered by sugarcane farmers and workers due to the RSSI infestation. (PIA)
