Photo courtesy of Bago City PESO
Workers, farmers, fisherfolk, small entrepreneurs and trainees in Negros Occidental received at least Php 261 million in government assistance as national agencies brought several programs together in a province-wide aid distribution on Monday.
The distribution at the Capitol Park and Lagoon was part of the simultaneous “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat” activities held in connection with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 69th birthday.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for the Negros Island Region, placed the combined assistance for the province at no less than Php 261 million.
Employment and livelihood programs accounted for a portion of the assistance, with the Department of Labor and Employment providing Php 25 million through TUPAD, the Special Program for Employment of Students and its livelihood program. Seventeen associations and cooperatives in Bago City received a combined Php 10 million for livelihood projects.
Support for entrepreneurs and overseas Filipino workers was also distributed. The Department of Trade and Industry released Php 2.5 million to four Small Business Program grantees, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided Php 2.5 million in livelihood, medical and welfare benefits.
For the agriculture sector, 14 irrigators’ associations received Php 1.7 million for operation and maintenance needs. Three municipalities, Calatrava, Moises Padilla and La Castellana, were allocated a combined Php 1.9 million under an agricultural livelihood initiative, while a salt production project in Pulupandan received Php 600,000.
Fisherfolk received additional equipment from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including 15 fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats valued at Php 1.05 million and 10 marine engines worth Php 150,000. Another Php 390,000 was distributed through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk.
Skills-development assistance included Php 3.5 million in allowances for 1,392 TESDA beneficiaries and Php 9.4 million worth of toolkits for 1,114 recipients. Fifty scholars were also given certificates of commitment.
Other services offered during the activity included medical and dental consultations, immunization and PhilHealth registration. A Kadiwa market was also mounted, with rice sold at Php 20 per kilogram, while selected local governments received assistance connected with the DSWD’s 2026 Supplementary Feeding Program.
