Garchitorena: The Office of the President (OP) on Friday distributed assorted vegetables to 12 barangays in Garchitorena in Camarines Sur province, including island communities with low-income households. This initiative aims to support vulnerable families by providing much-needed food supplies in the area.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Presidential Management Staff - Bicol reported that 4,048 families benefited from the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of cabbage, eggplant, squash, ampalaya (bitter melon), tomatoes, and onions. The distribution reached various barangays, with 237 families in Burabod, 198 in Cagamutan, 191 in Dangla, 211 in Mansangat, 263 in Cagnipa, 283 in Tamiawon, 487 in Binagasbasan, 572 in Sumaoy, 649 in Harrison, 249 in Canlong, 515 in Denrica, and 193 in Sagrada receiving the vegetables.

In addition to the vegetables, the OP also handed out Bagong Pilipinas ecobags and fans. This effort is part of the Marcos administration's ongoing commitment to provide food support to vulnerable families while assisting farmers by sourcing produce directly from agricultural areas.

During the distribution, Cagamutan barangay chairperson Gina Nazareno expressed gratitude for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s initiative, calling it timely and beneficial. "This is a big help to our barangays. This is a great relief for the residents, especially at a time when goods are expensive, and it also helps each family eat healthier food," she said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency 5 (Bicol).

Nazareno appreciated the President's effort to reach their distant, hot, and coastal area to provide assistance. "Even though we are far away, help has reached us," she added.

Nenita Vergara, a resident of Barangay Dangla and a beneficiary of the free vegetables, echoed similar sentiments. She noted that the vegetables not only help reduce their expenses but also contribute to their daily nutritional needs. "The President does not forget us," Vergara stated.