CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — A total of 2,119 indigent residents of Santa Rita town in Pampanga received rice assistance under the national government’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) rice distribution program, making the municipality the first in Pampanga to roll out the initiative.
Each beneficiary received 20 kilograms of rice for the first two months, with the remaining 20 kilograms set to be distributed in the coming months.
Beneficiaries were identified through its family indigency mapping to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable households.
Mayor Reynan Calo said the program provides immediate relief to families struggling with daily expenses.
“A total of 2,119 beneficiaries will each receive 10 kilograms of rice for four months under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution Program. We selected families identified through our family indigency mapping because they are the ones who need government support the most,” he disclosed.
The mayor added that the initiative complements the municipality’s efforts to improve the welfare of its residents, particularly those in the indigent sector.
“This is a big help for our Ritenian families, especially those belonging to the indigent sector. We know how difficult life is for many of them, and this assistance will help ease their burden,” Calo said
Beyond the rice distribution, Calo announced that Santa Rita will also implement the next phase of the BBM Program through the establishment of community water systems in areas with limited access to safe water.
According to the mayor, part of the program’s funding or P5 million, will be allocated for the construction of water wells in remote communities where electricity is unavailable.
For beneficiaries, the assistance provides welcome relief, especially during the rainy season when employment opportunities become uncertain.
Angeline Galang, a resident of Barangay San Agustin, said the rice assistance will help her family meet their daily needs, as her husband relies on construction work for their livelihood.
“This is a big help for us because my husband works in construction. Especially now that it is the rainy season, this assistance will help our family a lot. Thank you very much to President Marcos for this support,” she said. (Marie Joy S. Carbungco)
