By CESAR JOLITO III

A total of P3.4 million in financial assistance has been set aside for fisherfolk and farmers in Bacolod City whose livelihoods were affected by Typhoon “Tino” in November last year.

Bacolod City Agriculture Office head Maricar Qurio said the assistance will be provided through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and will be sourced from the city’s local funds.

A total of 340 beneficiaries have already been identified from several barangays across the city, including Barangays 1, 2, 12, 13, and 14, as well as Banago, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang-Airport, Tangub, and Villamonte.

Of the total number, 320 are fisherfolk while 20 are farmers.

Each beneficiary is set to receive P10,000 in financial aid to help them recover from losses brought about by the typhoon.

Qurio said the Department of Agriculture is currently conducting an assessment of damaged fishing boats to determine the extent of losses sustained by affected fisherfolk.

Distribution of the cash assistance will be handled by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).

Meanwhile, the DSSD is awaiting approval for additional funding for the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program this year to cover families affected by Typhoon “Tino” who were not included in the first and second batches of payouts.

Earlier, the DSSD requested the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Negros Island Region for additional funds to expand assistance coverage for affected Bacolod residents./CJ, WDJ