The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released more than P199 million worth of financial assistance to smallholder farmers in 17 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island, whose sugarcane crops were ravaged by red-striped soft scale insects, as of Sunday, August 23.
The Emergency Cash Transfer has been released to 19,373 NIR beneficiaries, with more still to be distributed, DSWD Negros Island Region Director Arwin Razo said Monday.
The aid will also cover laborers, he said, but they are also still waiting for the lists from the LGUs.
Negros Occidental received the largest share of financial assistance, with ₱151,199,300.00 distributed among 14,644 sugarcane farmers.
The 11 Negros Occidental LGUs covered so far are Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Himamaylan City, Isabela, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Murcia, San Carlos City, Sipalay City, Talisay City, and Salvador Benedicto.
The highest recipient was Himamaylan City with 3,549 beneficiaries who received ₱36,643,425.
In Negros Oriental, 4,729 sugarcane farmers received assistance totaling ₱47,881,125.00 in six LGUs.
The LGUs covered are Bais City, Canlaon City, Jimalalud, Mabinay, Pamplona, and Zamboanguita.
