Almost PHP10 million in government aid was extended to indigent families and farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in 15 municipalities in Sorsogon province during the “Lab for All” caravan led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos early this week.

In a report on Saturday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 5 (Bicol) turned over PHP7.8 million worth of interventions while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) granted PHP1.8 million in financial assistance to individuals in Sorsogon.

The DA-5 distributed 500 grafted pili seedlings, 3,000 packets of vegetable seeds, 100 bamboo planting materials, and 2,500 copies of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to 10 FCA beneficiaries.

They also received a “Lab for All” Livelihood Package, which includes 48 ready-to-lay pullets, 1 egg machine cage to house 48 pullets, 8 bags of poultry express feeds, 1 disinfectant, 1 liter of multi-vitamins, and 100 grams of antibiotics.

The beneficiaries of the livelihood package are the Gimagaan Indigenous People’s Farmers Association of Donsol; Barangay Gogon Farmers Association of Donsol; Pangpang Farmers Association of Pilar; Minanticaan Farmers Association of Castilla; Samahang Mangingisda ng Barangay Kuwatro (SAMBAK) of Sta. Magdalena; Barangay Fabrica Livestock Poultry and High-Value Crops Farmers Association of Barcelona; Porog Rural Fisherfolks Association of Bulusan; Alyansa kan mga Parasira sa Sorsogon of Bulan; Cabiguhan Poultry Farmers Association of Gubat; and Green Thumb Catanagan Community Farmers of Juban.

Fifteen local government units, on the other hand, were granted 200 mallard ducks worth PHP1.5 million, 45 heads of swine, PHP22,500 worth of feeds, PHP21,000 worth of piglets, and PHP6,500 animal drugs, all for distribution to qualified FCAs.

Also, eight LGUs – Bulan, Gubat, Sorsogon City, Castilla, Prieto Diaz, Barcelona, Irosin, and Sta. Magdalena – received PHP6 million worth of projects under the swine-calibrated repopulation.

Meanwhile, the DSWD, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), released PHP2,000 each to 939 indigent individuals – 297 from Sorsogon City, 424 from Gubat town, and 218 from Casiguran town.

Apart from the cash assistance, DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) also provided relief supplies to each individual.

Cash and relief assistance were given to indigent individuals or families severely affected by inflation to help them cope with the rising prices of basic commodities.

The Lab for All caravan, an initiative of the First Lady, aims to bring essential services, such as health, education, and livelihood, directly to communities, particularly those who need them most. (PNA)