Batac City:Ilocos Norte About 37,500 families across Ilocos Norte are benefiting from the third cycle of the government's rice distribution program, which aims to provide essential food assistance to households and vulnerable sectors within the province.

According to Philippines News Agency, Rochelle Gajes, the acting provincial social welfare and development officer, confirmed that the latest distribution highlights the government's ongoing efforts to alleviate the burden of food expenses and offer direct support to families amid the rising cost of living.

The initiative, led by Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, began its third cycle last week, focusing on vulnerable families, particularly in the southern part of the province. The governor emphasized the importance of the program during a distribution event in the municipalities of San Nicolas, Batac City, Paoay, Badoc, and Pinili, noting that President Bongbong Marcos's intention is for all citizens to benefit.

For residents like Corazon Cabaloan from Barangay 60-A, rice is a daily essential. She expressed that the distribution program provides vital relief as food prices continue to rise, offering her family much-needed respite in managing their daily expenses.

Rather than being a one-time measure, the governments ongoing cycles of food distribution are designed to provide sustained support to families facing persistent financial difficulties.