Laoag: Low-income families in this city have started receiving their share of 10-kilogram rice aid from the national government. 'This is a big relief for my family. My children will have something to eat,' said Emelyn Quinay in a Friday media interview, as she hopes the rice distribution program initiated by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will continue to help the needy. Quinay is among the 7,727 beneficiaries of the rice distribution project in this city.

According to Philippines News Agency, the program aims to provide rice assistance to indigent individuals and families via local government units (LGUs) to address food insecurity and support vulnerable households. The City Social Welfare and Development Office prepared a list of eligible beneficiaries, excluding those who previously received rice subsidies, to ensure that aid reaches other needy households.

Earlier this week, the Ilocos Norte provincial government also resumed its rice distribution program to benefit more low-income households across the province. This came after the provincial government received about PHP68 million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government's Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for the second tranche of rice aid from the national government.

Last month, the first phase of the national rice assistance program provided 10 kilograms of rice to more than 37,000 indigent families.