First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Monday assured senior citizens of the government's continued support as she led the distribution of rice assistance to elderly residents of San Juan City under the administration's "Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya" initiative.

The First Lady joined San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora in leading the "Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution" program at the FilOil Centre along Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue, where a total of 8,898 senior citizens in San Juan were said to have benefited.

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 4,400 senior citizens received the second wave of assistance on Monday, while the remaining recipients are scheduled to receive theirs later this week.

Each beneficiary will receive 10 kilograms of rice in four distribution waves this year.

Thousands of elderly residents gathered at the FilOil Centre for the distribution funded through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

Addressing the beneficiaries on Monday, June 29, the First Lady underscored the administration's efforts to bring assistance directly to communities and vulnerable sectors.

She also spent time speaking with several senior citizens during the event, listening to their stories, and asking about their well-being.

Beneficiaries also took part in a raffle before the formal distribution, with prizes including rice cookers and Bagong Pilipinas DigiBox units.

The First Lady recalled her family's connection to San Juan, noting that President Marcos was born there.

"Totoo po ang sinabi ni Mayor. Dito ipinanganak ang aking asawa (What the Mayor said is true. My husband was born here),” she said.

The First Lady also shared that she received her Covid-19 vaccination in San Juan during the pandemic despite not being a resident of the city.

"Noong Covid, nandito kami, at dito rin po ako naturukan ng bakuna. Kinabahan ako noon, pero napakabait ng inyong mayor (During Covid, we were here and I also received my vaccine shot here. I was nervous then, but your mayor was very kind),” she added.

She described it as meaningful to return to the city years later, this time as part of a government assistance program.

"That was four years ago, and here I am now giving back to all of you. Grabe ang mundo, umiikot talaga (The world really comes full circle)," the First Lady said.

The First Lady thanked the city government for partnering with the national government in bringing assistance closer to communities.

"At the end of the day, lahat tayo ay iisa (we are all one)," she added.

For his part, Zamora thanked President Marcos and the national government for the continued assistance being extended to the city's elderly residents.

The mayor said Monday's activity marked the start of the second round of rice distribution for San Juan beneficiaries.

"Ito po ay ginagawa ng ating pamahalaang nasyonal sapagkat gusto natin siguraduhin na may pagkain po sa lamesa ng ating mga pamilya dito sa lungsod ng San Juan (This is conducted by the national government because we want to ensure that there is food on the tables of families here in San Juan City),” he said.

The rice distribution program forms part of the administration's continuing efforts to strengthen food security and ensure government assistance reaches vulnerable sectors and families most in need.