By: Hannah Nicol
The Valenzuela City local government launched on Friday, July 12, its five-day "Pasko sa Hulyo para kay Lolo at Lola 2024" program for the registered senior residents.
The initiative will run from July 12 to July 20, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
According to the city’s public information office, the program will distribute two bags of five-kilogram rice to 69,025 senior citizens in the city.
It added that the initiative also aims to support thousand of local farmers from Isabela province.
Senior citizens who registered with the Office of Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) on or before May 10 are eligible to receive the gift pack.
City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said that the senior citizens will receive high quality rice from Isabela province.
“Alam niyo po, dito sa Valenzuela, mahal na mahal po natin ang ating mga senior citizen. Kaya ho hindi na po sapat na nagbibigay tayo ng bigas lamang. Kung hindi po, dapat ang bigas na binibigay natin ay masarap at high quality (You know, here in Valenzuela, we really love our senior citizens. That's why it's not enough that we just give rice. The rice we provide should be delicious and of high quality),” he said.
He added that the city government has a partnership with a farming cooperative in Isabela. The collaboration ensured that the rice distributed to the senior citizens is sourced directly from local farmers in order to support their livelihood and to promote sustainable agriculture.
“Kaya po, ngayong umaga ay ipinagmamalaki ko po na itong bigas nito ay bagong ani mula po sa probinsya ng Isabela. Napakabango po, napakasarap po ang lasa at ang kulay po napakaganda po. 'Yan po ay dahil meron na tayong partner na kooperatiba na pagsasaka
sa probinsya ng Isabela. Nakakatulong na tayo sa ating mga senior citizen dito sa Valenzuela, nakakatulong din tayo sa libo-libong magsasaka doon po sa Isabela (That's why this morning, I am proud to announce that this rice is freshly harvested from the province of Isabela. It has a wonderful aroma, delicious taste, and beautiful color. This is because we now have a partnership with a farming cooperative in Isabela. We are helping our senior citizens here in Valenzuela and, at the same time, we are supporting thousands of farmers in Isabela),” Gatchalian said.
The city government reminded the residents and those who will be collecting the gift pack to bring the following requirements: the Pasko sa Hulyo claim stub, senior citizen ID; and if a relative is claiming on behalf of the senior citizen, an authorization letter with the senior citizen’s signature is required along with the claimant’s valid ID.
The beneficiaries were advised to claim the gift pack on the specified date, time and redemption site indicated on their voucher.