Gov Aris, DA led in PAFFF

to 752 Bohol beneficiaries

Teresita Ello, 82 years old from Corella town never expected to be among the 752 beneficiaries of the P10,000 Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk and their Families (PAFF).

A widow who is now living alone in a crumbling house in the hinterlands of the town, Ello survives by her pension which she uses to buy for her maintenance medications, milk and food, the rest of her needs she gets from her backyard where she tends a few crops and plants.

Born as a daughter to small time farmers growing ubi, corn and camote in their family-inherited patch of land in Barangay Cancatac, she has built in herself the habit to go and touch earth and grow whatever the family needs in their small farm.

Working as a Barangay Health Worker for over 30 years, Teresita alternately volunteers to help in the community’s health needs and as a small time farmer that she never considers herself fully into food production that she did not expect to get the presidential assistance.

On October 18, 2024 however, she was among the 10 beneficiaries of the PAFF who would receive the cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) representatives and local officials led by Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado.

On that day, along with beneficiaries from Alburquerque, Corella, Maribojoc, Dauis and Sevilla, Ello, along with 9 other beneficiaries in the ceremonial turn-over of assistance, would personally tear the sealed brown envelop containing the cash aid to show to the witnesses that they received the government’s assistance to people who have to get through the crisis.

First distributed to some of the identified over 7,000 beneficiaries in Bohol last June with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., himself distributing the assistance in fitting ceremonies at the CPG Sports Complex, the PAFFF has to get back to the initial list and provide documentary evidence for the beneficiaries, explains Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, during the continuation of the presidential handover at the Capitol’s Café Caloy lounge.

Aumentado, who has also heard about the rising complaints on the selection process of the beneficiaries, told the farmers that Capitol is careful that the resources of the government do not get wasted to beneficiaries who do not deserve the assistance, thus the delay in the hand-over.

DA Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Coordinating Officer Roman Dabalos, during the event, called on the farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries to continue their heroic mission of feeding the country, even as the challenges in farming continue to double.

“This is a huge help,” Ello said as she showed the money she received, which she did not expect.

Living alone, the retired BHW has however rendered honorable service to the community, which has kept her from fully devoting her life in farming.

But as a daughter of a farmer and now living only from the fruits of a small farm and a small pension, the drought has severely affected her life, making her eligible to the assistance.

Elsewhere, families who have pegged their lives on the ayuda mentality, but could not get to the cash windfall have been vocal against the system in determining the beneficiaries.

However, the DA insists that the list was based on the registry of basic sectors in agriculture as validated and verified by the local agriculture offices.

Understanding this, Ello, who initially was adamant in receiving the aid, finally understood that she too, as a farmer and accomplished government health volunteer living alone and without anybody to help her, also deserves the help.

Daghan kaayo’ng salamat, sa mga naghago aron madawat namo ‘ning hinabang, plano nako nga ako kining hinayhinayon og palit og pagkaon ug patrabaho sa akong mga tanom, she revealed as she slowly slipped the cash back in the envelop and into a dilapidated purse. (RACH/PIA_7/Bohol)

TOO OLD TO BE FARMING. The PAFFF turn-over showed to Bohol officials the bleak scenario unfolding before their eyes. 90% of the farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries were over 50 years old, which shows how food security, if left to the oldies, can be a future concern.