A total of 6,019 residents of Lapu-Lapu City received free rice and accessed various government services during a joint national and local government assistance programme held on September 14.
The activity took place at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob as part of a nationwide initiative marking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s birthday and bringing government assistance and public services closer to communities.
Residents receive 10 kilos of rice each
Under the Local Government Support Fund Rice Distribution Program and its “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” component, each beneficiary received 10 kilos of rice.
The distribution was organised with support from the city government, providing direct food assistance to thousands of residents.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” Chan said programmes like the rice distribution demonstrate how national and local governments can work together to make assistance more accessible to communities.
She said the support could help beneficiary families meet their daily needs while also easing some of the financial pressure on households.
Government agencies bring services to residents
The activity went beyond rice distribution, with several government agencies setting up services at the venue.
The Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Statistics Authority were among the agencies that provided assistance to residents.
The Office of the City Prosecutor also offered free legal consultations during the event, allowing residents to access government services without having to travel to different offices.
The one-stop setup was intended to make public assistance more convenient, particularly for residents who may have difficulty accessing government agencies individually.
Lapu-Lapu continues P20-per-kilo rice programme
The city government is also continuing its own rice initiative, which offers rice to residents at P20 per kilo.
Under the programme, the city directly purchases rice from Food Terminal Incorporated and sells it to residents at a subsidised price.
The programme is operated on a non-profit basis and is intended to make basic food supplies more affordable for local households.
The city government’s continued rice distribution and subsidised rice programme come as families face persistent pressure from food and other household expenses.
Assistance aimed at supporting families
The September 14 activity reflects the government’s broader effort to bring social assistance and public services directly into communities.
For the thousands of Lapu-Lapu residents who received the 10-kilo rice allocation, the assistance provides immediate support for household food needs.
Meanwhile, the availability of labour, statistics and legal services at the same venue gave residents an opportunity to address other concerns without making separate trips to government offices.
With both national and local programmes operating alongside one another, Lapu-Lapu City is continuing to use food assistance and subsidised rice as part of its efforts to support residents and make essential government services more accessible.
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