‘Handog ng Pangulo’ brings aid to El Niño-hit farmers in Agusan Sur
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — More than 50,000 hectares of agricultural land in Agusan del Sur, including rice fields, fish ponds, and aquaculture cages, have been affected by the ongoing El Niño, leaving thousands of farmers and fisherfolk struggling to sustain their livelihoods.
In response, the national and provincial governments brought essential assistance and livelihood support through the Handog ng Pangulo 2026, held on September 14 at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center (DLMCC) in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Ernesto Lagumbay, a 64-year-old farmer from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, shared the hardships his family has endured as prolonged dry conditions continue to damage their rice farm.
“We have not harvested rice for some time now due to the extreme heat. There is no available water for irrigation, and El Niño has dried out our crops,” he said.
As a farmer who depends solely on his produce for livelihood and to put food on the table, Lagumbay welcomed any form of help available just to thrive while they face the ongoing calamity.
Just like an answered prayer, Lagumbay learned he was among the beneficiaries who would receive P2,000 under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga during the ‘Handog ng Pangulo,’ providing immediate relief for his family affected by the drought.
“I am grateful for the assistance I received through Handog ng Pangulo 2026. I can now buy food for my family while we are facing this crisis,” he said.
The Handog ng Pangulo 2026 caravan brought together various national government agencies in one place to deliver financial assistance, livelihood programs, agricultural interventions, health services, and other social protection initiatives, ensuring that communities severely affected by El Niño receive immediate and long-term government support.
Among the agencies that provided assistance was the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Agusan del Sur, which rolled out livelihood and irrigation support for affected irrigators’ associations.
Peter Pablo, manager of NIA Agusan del Sur, said the agency distributed P500,000 worth of livelihood assistance during the event and allocated P1.5 million in operation and maintenance subsidies for 10 irrigators’ associations in the municipalities of La Paz and Loreto.
“The livelihood assistance will serve as capital for the beneficiaries. Depending on their approved proposals, they may use it for agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, farm supplies, and other income-generating activities,” Pablo explained.
As Agusan del Sur continues to confront the impacts of the climate crisis, the government’s coordinated interventions aim to help farmers recover their livelihoods, strengthen food security, and provide hope to every AgSurnon family affected by the prolonged drought. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
