A total of 831 beneficiaries from five barangays in Legazpi City each received 10 kilograms of rice under the third tranche of the Bigay Bigas Para sa Masa (BBM) program on Tuesday.

The distribution, held in Barangay Buyoan, benefited 337 residents from Buyoan, 205 from Bonga, 127 from Padang, 91 from Matanag, and 71 from Mabinit. The Albay provincial government supports the initiative through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

For 75-year-old Hermilina Bron of Barangay Padang, the rice assistance is a significant help because she can no longer farm due to her age and is widowed.

“I thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. because this is a big help to those of us who are struggling. We no longer have to buy rice,” Bron said.

Meanwhile, Mercy Sealna, 49, of Barangay Mabinit, thanked Marcos, the national government, and the provincial government for the assistance, saying it would help her family meet their daily food needs.

“This is a big help to our family because we will have rice for our daily meals. The money we would have spent on rice can instead be used to buy viand and medicine,” Sealna said.

Magdalena Batalla, 52, a mother of three from Barangay Padang, also welcomed the assistance, noting it would help reduce her family’s food expenses.

“This is a big help to our family because it adds to the rice we need for our daily meals. We no longer have to buy 10 kilograms of rice,” Batalla said, expressing gratitude to Marcos for his assistance.

The rice distribution is part of the Marcos administration’s initiative to provide food assistance to indigent families and ease their daily expenses.

Through the LGSF, the President supports rice assistance programs implemented in partnership with local government units to help vulnerable households meet their basic food needs. (PNA)