ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of confiscated smuggled rice to 3,000 indigent beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at the National Food Authority compound here on Tuesday, September 19.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. distributes sacks of rice to indigent beneficiaries in Zamboanga City. (Photo via Liza Jocson)
Beneficiaries were from among 5,000 identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Zamboanga Peninsula which includes the municipalities of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay and Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte.
In a speech, Marcos bared plans for the NFA to procure more sacks of rice as buffer stock to mitigate the effects of an increase in prices.
He described his trip here as part of his inspection around the country to ensure that government assistance reaches marginalized sectors.
The sacks of rice distributed in Zamboanga Peninsula were among 42,180 worth P42 million confiscated from a warehouse in San Jose Gusu here last May after its owners failed to present complete documents legalizing its transport.
The smuggled rice was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as donation and distributed to residents of Zamboanga Peninsula as government measure to protect consumers from soaring prices of the staple.
Marcos was accompanied in his first presidential visit here by Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.