Dumaguete: A total of 1,776 residents from various barangays in Dumaguete City received 10 kilos of free rice each from the national government on Friday. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria led the distribution at the Tinago Gymnasium, with assistance from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and its city counterpart.

According to Philippines News Agency, the distribution is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s "Bawat Bayan Makikinabang" program, with the rice assistance funded through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). Recto mentioned that Friday's distribution was the first in a series of rice assistance activities to be implemented under the program in this capital.

The LGSF-funded rice distribution provides food assistance to qualified low-income households, with beneficiaries set to receive 10 kilos of rice every two months, or six cycles per year, to help them cope with rising food costs. Governor Sagarbarria thanked President Marcos for allocating funds for the rice assistance and acknowledged the President's efforts to secure resources to finance the program.

Sagarbarria stated that the assistance was also in response to the provincial government's request for national government support amid rising prices of commodities, fuel, and other necessities. One of the beneficiaries, Gladys Acibo, a solo parent from Barangay Poblacion 1, expressed her gratitude to Marcos for the assistance, noting that the 10 kilos of rice would help her save money for her child's transportation expenses.

The government plans to continue rice distribution to qualified beneficiaries as part of efforts to provide food assistance to low-income households.