MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — A total of 664 farmers and fisherfolk affected by a flash
flood in July received P1.8 million in financial assistance from the Malaybalay City government
to help them recover from losses to their crops and livelihoods.

The City Agriculture Office (CAgO) distributed a total of P1,804,905 in Crop Damage Financial
Assistance on Oct. 6 at the Barangay Violeta Covered Court here, nearly three months after the
July 8 flash flood damaged agricultural areas in several communities.
The city government said the beneficiaries came from the barangays of Apo Macote, Linabo,
Managok, Maligaya, Miglamin, San Martin, Simaya, Sinanglanan, Violeta and Cabangahan in
Bangcud.
Of the 664 beneficiaries, 393 were rice farmers, 227 corn farmers, 39 growers of high-value
commercial crops, one cassava farmer and four fisherfolk.
The assistance was drawn from the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)
Fund and is intended to help affected agricultural workers recover from losses caused by the
flooding.
During a brief program before the distribution, City Mayor Atty. Jay Warren R. Pabillaran,
Councilor Alan Ryann O. Legaspi and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
head Allan J. Comiso underscored the importance of supporting farmers whose livelihoods were
disrupted by disasters.
They also reminded beneficiaries to use the assistance responsibly and for purposes related to
their recovery.

City Agriculturist Engr. Richard B. Leono explained the distribution process, requirements and
guidelines to ensure that the financial aid reaches the validated beneficiaries.
Officials clarified that the amount received by each beneficiary was based on the validated area
damaged and existing government guidelines. Thus, the assistance varied among beneficiaries
depending on the extent of losses recorded during the assessment.
The CAgO also clarified that the general computation of P5,000 per hectare does not mean every
beneficiary would receive the same amount, as the final assistance depends on the validated
damaged area and applicable assessment criteria.
The clarification was intended to provide transparency on how the financial assistance was
computed and to help beneficiaries understand the basis for the amount they received.
The distribution, conducted in coordination with the City Treasurer’s Office, was completed
within several hours and was described by organizers as orderly and smooth.
The initiative forms part of the city government’s disaster response and recovery efforts to help
affected farmers and fisherfolk restore their livelihoods following weather-related losses.
(melbmadera)