Negros oriental: The Negros Oriental provincial government vowed to support the PHP20-a-kilo rice project of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with a PHP15-million counterpart funding by October. Speaking before thousands at the ‘Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat’ event at Negros Oriental State University gymnasium, which coincided with the 68th birthday of the President, Governor Manuel Sagarbarria said the program is proof of the administration’s commitment to serve vulnerable communities.

According to Philippines News Agency, the provincial government will release its subsidy through the National Food Authority to procure rice from local farmers, sustaining the affordable rice scheme that buys the staple at PHP33 per kilo and sells it at a lower price. A total of 150 bags of rice, each weighing 50 kilos or a total of 7,500 kilos, were sold to all sectors at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the gymnasium.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, residents in the capital thanked the President for the affordable rice program, calling for its continuous implementation. David Pis-an, 65, a resident of Barangay Talay here and a retired security guard, said the 10 kilos of rice he bought would last for about a week for him and three others in his household. Carlos Generoso, 82, of Barangay Pulantubig, noted the rice’s good quality compared to the usual PHP40 per kilo staple his seven-member family buys.

Barangay health workers Mary Judelyn Magong of Mangnao and Girlie Baring of Tabuctubig also lauded the initiative, saying it eases the burden on minimum wage earners and vulnerable sectors. The Handog caravan included Kadiwa outlets selling local products, fruits, and vegetables, and government agencies providing services such as for health and agriculture.