Around 571,000 families will receive rice subsidies from the Manila City government next week amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Some 50,000 sacks of rice procured by the Manila City government are now ready for distribution for families affected by the crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said they ordered the sacks of rice two weeks ago in anticipation of the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“We are trying to accumulate basic goods and particularly rice, so we entered into a contract with NFA about two weeks ago, and we are now doing some storing in our facilities, hoping in our own little way, to extend food assistance to our people,” Domagoso said during the inspection of sacks at Pritil Market.
“This is going to be delivered by next week in their respective barangays, hopefully, may-awa ang Diyos, because we ordered 50,000 sacks of rice, that’s 2.5 million kilos of rice,” he added.
According to the Mayor, about 571,000 families will benefit from the rice subsidy of the government. At least three kilograms of rice will be given to each family, he said.
“If we have 571,000 families, at three kilos, that’s more or less 1.5 to 1.8 million. So may buffer pa kami, but it’s better na sobra kung sosobra, para maakap namin hangga’t maaari ang lahat,” he said.
“It may not be perfect, but in our own little way, with Vice Mayor here, really helping me a lot in the city council and our employees who are dedicated and really doing their part in the City of Manila,” the Mayor said, as he stressed that rice is the most important of a family meal.
The city government has been continuously giving assistance to all families living in the City of Manila.
As of writing, more than 235,000 families have received food boxes provided by the local government through its continuous relief operations.
Likewise, the Manila City government has been able to disburse more than P571 million of funds sourced from the City Amelioration Crisis Assistance Fund (CACAF) to the city’s 896 barangays.
Under the CACAF, more than 500,000 families are set to receive P1,000 cash aid from the city government./Stacy Ang
