Para±aque: Around 35,000 vulnerable families in Para±aque have received free rice under First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos' socio-civic initiative 'Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya,' as the administration continues to roll out food assistance to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

According to Philippines News Agency, the latest distribution was held Thursday at the Para±aque Sports Complex, where the First Lady led the second tranche of rice assistance for beneficiaries from Barangay San Antonio. The distribution forms part of the government's 'Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang' program, through which local government units purchase rice directly from local farmers using the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) before distributing the staple to vulnerable households.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. launched the free rice initiative to help ease the burden of higher food prices amid global supply uncertainties and price pressures triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Under the program, qualified beneficiaries receive 10 kilograms of quality rice per family. Barangay San Antonio alone accounted for 2,579 beneficiaries in the latest distribution.

City officials said two more distribution rounds are scheduled before the end of the year to complete the assistance rollout. Para±aque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the program prioritizes senior citizens, tricycle, pedicab and jeepney drivers, persons with disabilities, fisherfolk, solo parents, beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and 555 families displaced by a fire in May.

Also present during the activity were San Juan City Mayor and League of Cities of the Philippines President Francis Zamora, Para±aque 1st District Rep. Eric Olivarez, 2nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, and Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Lopez de Leon.