13K Legazpi seniors to get 10 kilos rice under LGSF program

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- More than 13,000 senior citizens in this city will receive 10 kilos of rice each starting in August under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) Rice Subsidy Program, the local chief executive said on Monday.

In an interview, Mayor Hisham Ismail said the assistance forms part of the initial allocation from the national government under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"Under the initial allocation from the national government, more than 13,000 of the city's over 25,000 senior citizens will receive 10 kilos of rice each. The allocation for Legazpi will be released in four tranches," he said.

The LGSF Rice Subsidy Program aims to help ease the financial burden of Filipino families by providing rice assistance to vulnerable sectors.

Ismail said senior citizens were prioritized because many can no longer work, while others have no pension and face increasing health-related expenses.

"Many senior citizens are no longer able to work. Not all of them receive pensions, and many are dealing with health issues. This assistance will not only benefit them but also their children and grandchildren when they bring the rice home," he said.

He added the distribution is scheduled to begin in August.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the city expanded the number of beneficiaries under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Social Pension Program after the national government added 550 recipients.

The additional allocation increased the number of beneficiaries from more than 3,200 to over 3,700. The city government also included around 700 more beneficiaries using local funds, further expanding assistance to indigent senior citizens.

The city government said the continued rollout of national and local assistance programs reflects its commitment to strengthening social protection measures for vulnerable residents, particularly senior citizens. (PNA)