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First Lady launches Metro Manila rice drive, 1,200 QC families get aid
First Lady launches Metro Manila rice drive, 1,200 QC families get aid
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the rollout of a rice distribution drive in Metro Manila, starting in Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City, where 1,200 vulnerable families received rice assistance under the "Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya" initiative on Monday, June 22.
Addressing beneficiaries at the D4 Amphitheater in Barangay Doña Imelda, the First Lady said the program was inspired by the belief that every Filipino family deserves to have food on the table.
"Nandito po ako bilang ina kasi alam ko, as a mother, mahalaga na magkaroon ng pagkain sa lamesa natin (I am here as a mother because I know, as a mother, how important it is to have food on our tables),” she said.
“Maski na po konting tulong lang 'to (Even if this is just a small help), I hope it goes a long way, a few days that we can help you," she added.
Each beneficiary received 10 kilos of rice worth P550 through the initiative funded by the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which was released by the Office of the President to the Quezon City government.
Over 210,000 QC families to benefit
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the Office of the President had allocated P462.9 million to the city government for the rice subsidy program.
Belmonte said around 210,455 families, or roughly 25 percent of all households in Quezon City, are expected to benefit from the initiative.
She added that the city government utilized the Sagip Saka Act to directly source rice from farmer cooperatives, allowing the program to support both consumers and local rice producers.
Monday's distribution marked the second tranche of the rice assistance initiative in Quezon City, with two more tranches scheduled to complete the four-round distribution program.
Metro Manila rollout
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, president of the Metro Manila Council, said similar rice distribution activities will also be implemented in other cities across the National Capital Region.
The remaining three tranches for participating local government units will be rolled out by November this year, he said.
The First Lady will spearhead a weeklong series of community visits across Metro Manila as part of the rice distribution campaign. After Monday's activity in Quezon City, Marcos is set to distribute rice assistance in Tondo, Manila, on June 23; Quezon City, on June 24; Sta. Cruz, Manila, on June 25; and Novaliches, Quezon City, on June 26.
The Local Government Support Fund is a national government financial assistance program that provides direct support to local government units for priority programs, infrastructure projects, and public services.