Over 13,000 Makati families get 10 kg of rice under gov't program

A total of 13,571 families in Makati City are set to receive 10 kilos of rice every two months under the government’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. personally led the distribution of rice assistance in Makati on Monday morning, with beneficiary households receiving aid funded through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), beneficiaries include working-class families, senior citizens, and middle-income households across Makati’s barangays.

Marcos said addressing hunger has been one of his goals since assuming office.

“Noong una po akong umupo bilang Pangulo, in-interview po ako at tinanong sa akin, ‘Ano ba talaga ang layunin mo na pagkatapos mo maging Presidente, anong pinakamagandang achievement na pwedeng masabi?’” Marcos recalled.

(When I first took office as President, I was interviewed and asked, “What is your real goal after your term? What would be the best achievement you could point to?”)

“Sabi ko eh, ang talagang pangarap ko ay masabi natin na wala nang Pilipinong gutom,” he added.

(I said my real dream is for us to say that no Filipino goes hungry.)

The President said this was why a portion of the LGSF was allotted for a rice assistance program.

“Alam naman nating mga Pilipino, para sa atin kung walang bigas, walang kain. Kaya mahalaga na makapagbigay tayo, makatiyak ang ating mga mas nangangailangan na kababayan na mayroon silang makain,” he said.

(We Filipinos know that if there is no rice, there is no meal. That is why it is important to ensure our countrymen in need have something to eat.)

Marcos also oversaw the distribution of P200,000 in assistance under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) to participating barangays in Makati.

Under the program, each barangay receives P100,000 for the educational assistance of five presidential scholars. In Makati, 115 scholars from 23 barangays benefited from the initiative, the PCO said.

Marcos said he suggested prioritizing students nearing graduation but unable to finish their studies due to financial difficulties.

“Whatever the reason is, ito ‘yung tulong para naman makapag-graduate ‘yung ating mga kabataan. Dahil napakahalaga na magkaroon kayo ng magandang pinag-aralan. A good education is a gift that cannot be taken away from you,” he said.

(Whatever the reason, this assistance is meant to help our youth graduate. A good education is a gift that cannot be taken away from you.)

“Ito ay napakahalaga dahil alam naman natin, pagka maganda ang training, pagka maganda ang napag-aralan, ay marami kayong magagawa upang tulungan ang inyong sarili, ang inyong pamilya, at ang Pilipinas,” he added.

(This is important because good training and education can help you improve your lives, support your families, and contribute to the country.)

Aside from educational assistance, another P100,000 was allocated for barangay-identified community development projects.

The PCO said procured items included monobloc chairs, laptops, projectors, CCTV cameras, office equipment, generators, flood pumps, steel pipe tents, and other disaster risk reduction and public service materials.—MCG, GMA News