More than 3,000 residents from vulnerable sectors in Mandaluyong City received rice assistance on Friday under the Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya socio-civic initiative.
The distribution, led by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program.
Funded through the Local Government Support Fund, the initiative provided 10 kilos of rice to each of the 3,100 beneficiary families from the city’s 27 barangays.
The recipients included 2,000 senior citizens, 1,000 members of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations, and 100 children with disabilities.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the First Lady relayed the President’s gratitude and affection for Mandaluyong residents while acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by many Filipino families.
“Pinadala ako ng asawa ko para iparating ang mensahe na love na love niya ang mga taga-Mandaluyong,” First Lady Marcos said.
She also recalled the support shown by Mandaluyong residents during a difficult period in the President’s political career.
“Naalala ko ang asawa ko noong tumakbo siyang Vice President at natalo. Pagpunta namin sa Cebu, lahat ng taga-Mandaluyong ay nagpalakpakan at tumayo. Kaya umiyak kami. That’s why we love Mandaluyong,” she said.
While recognizing that the assistance was modest, the First Lady expressed hope that the rice would help ease the beneficiaries’ daily expenses.
“Alam ko, mahirap ang panahon ngayon. We cannot eradicate poverty 100 percent. But, sana this little rice… hopefully it will make things easier for the next couple of days,” she said.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos thanked President Marcos and the First Lady for again including the city in the government’s rice distribution program.
“Pangalawa na po ito. Kung natatandaan ninyo, kayo rin ang unang nakatanggap ng first tranche. May pangatlo pa at may pang-apat pa. Iyan po ang ibinibigay ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos dahil ramdam nila ang inyong mga problema,” Abalos said.
The mayor also thanked the First Lady for her continued assistance to Mandaluyong residents.
“Ma’am, maraming-maraming salamat po. Hindi ninyo nakakalimutan ang mga taga-Mandaluyong. Ang lahat ng tulong ninyo sa aming pamilya at sa buong Mandaluyong ay hindi namin malilimutan,” she added.
Beneficiaries were also given the chance to win raffle prizes, including additional sacks of rice, rice cookers, digital television boxes, and television sets provided by the First Lady.
Among the recipients was 62-year-old Cora Tolores of Barangay Addition Hills, a Bantay Bayan volunteer and TODA member, who said the rice assistance would provide immediate relief to her family.
“Malaking tulong po dahil imbes na bibili pa kami ng bigas ay ilalaan na lamang sa ibang bagay ang pera,” Tolores said.
Tolores said she and her husband, a tricycle driver, are raising four grandchildren after their father died three years ago. She said rising prices of basic goods have made every peso important for their household.
The distribution was attended by newly appointed Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., former Mandaluyong Mayor Ben Abalos, League of Cities of the Philippines National President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, city officials, barangay leaders, and representatives of the beneficiary sectors.
The Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya initiative complements the Office of the President’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program by delivering direct assistance to vulnerable communities nationwide under the Marcos administration’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda.