SACKS OF RICE FOR BULAKENYOS -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian distributes rice to one of the 1,000 beneficiaries of the 25-kg sack of rice in Paombong town, during the ceremonial rice distribution held at the Paombong Municipal Covered Court, Paombong, Bulacan on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Also in photo are (front row, from left) Paombong Mayor Maryanne P. Marcos, Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena J. Tiongson, and (second row) Paombong Councilors Marcelo Ong III and Philip L. Eusebio. (Photo from the official Facebook page of Bulacan Provincial Government)
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian distributed 3,000 sacks of rice weighing 25 kilograms each to Bulakenyos who are Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The recipients were from the municipalities of Calumpit, Paombong, and Obando.
Gatchalian said the distributed rice were part of the 42,180 sacks of smuggled rice seized by the Bureau of Customs from a warehouse in Brgy. Baliwasan, Zamboanga City that were eventually donated to the DSWD.
“Kung may napapaulat ho na may tumataas na bilihin o tumataas ang presyo ng bigas, hindi po iyon dahil sa supply, kundi dahil po may masasamang loob na talagang minamanipula ang presyo at nagho-hoard ng bigas. Kaya’t ang assurance ng ating Pangulo lalung-lalo na sa ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries, huwag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi ho siya titigil na habulin ‘tong mga hoarders na ito o ang masasamang loob na ‘to at ico-confiscate iyong kanilang mga bigas,” ( If there's a report about rising commodity or rising prices of rise, it's not because of lack of supply, but because there are lawless elements that manipulate the prices and hoard the rice. So the president has assured our 4Ps beneficiaries that he would never stop running after the hoarders or smugglers)," Gatchalian said.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando, in a message relayed through Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino, said that economic development is the foundation for the long-term progress of the country.
“Sa ating pagbuo ng isang matatag na bansa, kinakailangan natin pagtuunan ng pansin ang maagap na pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Sa pagkakaroon natin ng kasapatan sa pagkain, ligtas na pamayanan at kalinangang pangkabuhayan mag-uugat ang pangmatagalang pagsulong ng ating bansang Pilipinas,” (In building a strong republic, we need to focus on the prompt response to the needs of our countrymen. On food security, a safe community, and livelihood will the country's long term progress will be anchored on)," he said.