Antique: The Antique provincial government is distributing rice and sardines to 328 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in three prison facilities. In an interview Monday, Jason Alagos, Social Welfare Officer II at the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said they distributed the food assistance to 73 PDL at the Antique Rehabilitation Center (ARC) on April 16, 233 PDL at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in San Jose de Buenavista on Monday, and to 56 PDL of the BJMP in Culasi on April 22.

According to Philippines News Agency, each PDL was given nine kilos of rice with three cans of sardines intended to help lessen the financial burden on their families. PSWDO chief Lazaro Petinglay was earlier instructed by Gov. Paolo Everardo Javier to implement the food assistance distribution so the provincial government could help the families of the PDLs considering the energy crisis. The PDL recipients were grateful for the food assistance intended for their families.

Meanwhile, the United Provincial Government Employees of Antique started its own rice distribution to its members after the Monday flag-raising ceremony. Each of the more than 1,000 regular employees of the provincial government will receive 5 kilos of rice. Included in the distribution are the board members and department heads who are considered as UPGEA’s partners in its programs and activities.