By Jositte Tista
LILOAN, Cebu, Philippines — Juliet Visoc, 44, sells homemade rice cakes to help feed her three children, and a 10-kilo bag of government rice now means one less expense for her family.
Visoc received the rice under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program. The program is part of the Office of the President’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program, which brings essential services closer to communities and helps ease financial burden on families.
Families will receive 10 kilos of rice every two to three months, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., said Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities Christina Frasco.
Stretching a small income
Visoc’s husband delivers construction materials and takes home P4,000 every 15 days, she said.
To add to his pay, she makes and sells suman, sticky rice cakes wrapped in leaves.
“Nagsalig ra intawn ko sa akong bana. Usahay maghimo ko og suman, ibaligya nako kay gamay ra man og sweldo ang akoang bana gud. Kulang ra kaayo (I rely on my husband. Sometimes I make suman and sell it because my husband’s salary is really small. It is not enough),” she said.
The family consumes about 15 kilos of rice every 15 days, in addition to paying for electricity, water, and viands, Visoc said.
She plans to use the money she saves on rice to buy more food for her family.
“Dako kaayo og ikatabang kay usa ka kinsena, 15 kilos man sab ang mahurot namo. Dako kaayo na’g ikatabang, maka-save pud intawn (It will really help us because we consume 15 kilos every 15 days. This will be a big help, and we can also save),” she said.
“Salamat kaayo sa atong Presidente nga naa ning bugas (Thank you very much to our President for this rice),” Visoc said.
Relief for families
Frasco represented the President at the rice distribution in Liloan. She said the program aims to ease the burden on families facing economic difficulties.
“Nanghinaot ang atong Presidente nga makahatag ni og kahupay sa kalisod sa kinabuhi sa tanan atong giatubang sa atong mga kaigsuonan (Our President hopes this can provide some relief from the difficulties our fellow Filipinos face),” she said.
The rice lets families shift part of their household budget to other needs, such as school expenses, the presidential adviser said.
Liloan Mayor Aljew Frasco said the town has identified 8,333 families to receive the rice.
The number is based on the program’s budget, with priority given to families earning below the minimum wage, he said.
The town distributes the rice in batches, at sites closer to recipients. The mayor said he hopes additional funding will allow the town to reach more families.
Visoc shares that hope.
“Hinaot unta nga kadtong wala pa mahatagi, matagaan pud unta tanan para patas ba (I hope those who have not yet received it will also be given the assistance so that everyone benefits equally),” she said. (JJT/PIA7)
