First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos kicked off a major rice distribution campaign in Metro Manila on June 22, delivering food aid to 1,200 low-income families in Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City.
The relief drive, titled “Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya,” aims to strengthen food security for vulnerable households across the capital region.
Speaking at the city’s D4 Amphitheater, the First Lady shared that her motivation stems from a deeply personal place.
“Nandito po ako bilang ina kasi alam ko, as a mother, mahalaga na magkaroon ng pagkain sa lamesa natin.”
She expressed hope that the provisions, though modest, would provide meaningful temporary relief.
“Maski na po konting tulong lang ‘to, I hope it goes a long way, a few days that we can help you.”
Each family received a 10-kilogram sack of rice valued at ₱550. The initiative is funded via the national government’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which the Office of the President directly allocated to local units.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed that the city received ₱462.9 million for the program, which will ultimately support roughly 210,455 households—representing a quarter of the city’s population.
Under the Sagip Saka Act, the city sourced the grain directly from local farming cooperatives to assist both agricultural workers and urban consumers.
This event marks the second phase of a four-part subsidy rollout. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, who heads the Metro Manila Council, confirmed that the aid program will expand to other cities across the capital, with final tranches wrapping up by November.
As part of a weeklong community tour, the First Lady will continue to lead distributions in Tondo, Manila (June 23), Quezon City (June 24), Sta. Cruz, Manila (June 25), and Novaliches, Quezon City (June 26).