President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the distribution of cash and rice assistance in Palayan City and inspected a government housing project as the administration seeks to cushion the impact of rising fuel and commodity prices linked to global tensions in the Middle East.
Marcos began his visit by meeting with barangay officials, distributing P200,000 each to 19 barangays under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program. The funds are intended to support local education initiatives and community projects, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President used the visit to assess local concerns, particularly in education and basic services amid economic pressures.
He also led the distribution of rice assistance to ambulant vendors, and assured that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program will continue to expand nationwide to improve access to affordable food. Castro said there are now 761 Kadiwa outlets across the country.
Marcos later inspected the 23-hectare Palayan City Township, a flagship housing development under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which aims to address the country’s estimated 6.5 million housing backlog by 2028. The project, inaugurated in 2022, is designed to accommodate more than 22,000 beneficiaries across 24 residential buildings.
Accompanied by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and local officials led by Palayan City Mayor Viandrei Nicole Cuevas, the President toured residential units and common facilities, including a central park and clubhouse, and spoke with early beneficiaries.
Each 29-square-meter unit is valued at about P1.3 million and is offered under flexible payment terms, with no down payment and monthly amortization ranging from P3,500 to P4,000.