Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon expressed gratitude to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for distributing free rice to about 3,000 residents on July 8 under the national government’s “Bigay Bigas sa Masa” program.

“Maraming salamat sa pagbisita sa Muntinlupa (Thank you for visiting Muntinlupa), First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos!,” Biazon said.

The First Lady, Biazon and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the distribution of 10 kilo sacks of rice at the Muntinlupa Sports Center. The activity was part of the “Mula sa Puso, Para sa Pamilya” program and the "Bigay Bigas sa Masa" initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Biazon noted this was the second batch of rice distribution out of four scheduled this year, with a total of 31,000 Muntinlupa households set to receive food assistance from the national government.

“Pinadala po ako ng asawa ko para, unang una, kumustahin kayo. At sabi niya, yung kanin daw, pinapasabi niya: ‘Even though we cannot eradicate poverty 100%, at least itong konting biyaya, sa susunod na araw, makakatulong’ (My husband sent me to, first of all, ask how you are. About the rice, he said: ‘Even though we cannot eradicate poverty 100%, at least this little blessing, the next day, will help’),” the First Lady said.

Beneficiaries included 600 women and children under the Gender and Development Office; 200 senior citizens and solo parents assisted by the Social Services Department; 1,215 members of the Urban Poor Affairs Office; and 1,261 recipients from ESC Kabalikat and the city’s fisherfolk organizations.

Muntinlupa resident Perlie Garcia accepted rice on behalf of her 68-year-old father, Edgardo Garcia, who has been ill.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa ating pamahalaan sa kanilang suporta sa amin. Na-o-overwhelm kami na nakarating sa lugar namin sina Pangulong Marcos at Unang Ginang at makita sila ng mga tao (We are grateful to our government for their support. We are overwhelmed that President Marcos and the First Lady came to our area and that the people could see them),” she said.