Around 35,000 vulnerable families in Parañaque City are expected to benefit from a free-rice assistance program being carried out under the Palace-backed “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative.
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos led the latest distribution on Wednesday at the Parañaque Sports Complex, where beneficiaries from Barangay San Antonio received rice assistance under her socio-civic program “Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya.”
Barangay San Antonio accounted for 2,579 beneficiaries in the latest tranche. City officials said two more rounds of distribution are scheduled before the end of the year.
Each beneficiary family receives 10 kilograms of quality rice. The supply was procured by local government units directly from local farmers through the Local Government Support Fund.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched the free-rice assistance program in February amid concerns over rising prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said priority beneficiaries include senior citizens, tricycle drivers, pedicab drivers, jeepney drivers, persons with disabilities, fisherfolk, solo parents, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and 555 families affected by a fire in May.
Among those who received assistance were friends Jiva Toyong and Ella Nathalie Pabroa, both 4Ps beneficiaries from Hontiveros Street, who claimed the rice on behalf of their parents.
“Malaking kabawasan ito sa gastusin sa pang-araw-araw,” Toyong said. Her mother, Josephine Disbarro, works as a street sweeper.
Pabroa said her mother, who works at a mall, was unable to attend the distribution.
Barangay Kagawad Mark Aragon welcomed the program, saying it provides direct support to residents who need help with daily food expenses.
“Magandang programa ito na direktang pakikinabangan ng aming mga kabarangay,” Aragon said.
Olivarez thanked the First Lady and President Marcos for bringing the program to Parañaque, saying the initiative shows government support for vulnerable families.
“Iniikot po niya ang mga LGU upang makita ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan. Ramdam na ramdam ng Lungsod ng Parañaque ang pagmamahal at kalinga ng ating Mahal na Presidente,” Olivarez said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng Local Government Support Fund, 35,000 vulnerable families sa Parañaque ang makikinabang dito, at hindi lang isang tranche kundi maraming tranche pa ang ipagkakaloob sa ating mga mamamayan,” he added.
Also present during the distribution were San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Parañaque First District Rep. Eric Olivarez, Second District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, and Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Lopez De Leon.
The First Lady thanked local officials and residents for supporting the initiative, which continues to be rolled out for vulnerable sectors affected by rising household costs.