A total of 1,300 Quezon City residents received rice assistance on Wednesday as First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos continued her “Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya” initiative, aimed at easing the burden of vulnerable households.

Leading the distribution at the Barangay Bagong Pag-asa Covered Court, the First Lady emphasized the importance of ensuring Filipino families have food on the table, saying the program reflects the administration’s concern for household welfare.

Joining her were Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Barangay Chairperson Francine “Chinggay” Bilaos.

The activity marked the third day of the First Lady’s weeklong rice distribution drive across Metro Manila.

Earlier this week, she led similar distributions in Barangay Doña Imelda in Quezon City and Barangay 72 in Tondo, Manila, benefiting about 1,200 and 500 families, respectively.

The First Lady acknowledged that poverty remains a challenge but noted that government interventions can help ease the hardships faced by families.

“Even if we cannot eradicate poverty 100 percent, at least we can do a bit to lessen the burden. I hope this little gesture will help ease your burden in the days to come. Maraming salamat (Thank you very much) for letting us be of service to you,” she said.

Belmonte said the rice assistance program is funded through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), with the city government procuring rice directly from farmers.

She said about 210,000 Quezon City families are expected to receive 10 kg. of rice each under the initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The distribution will be implemented in four tranches and is expected to benefit about 25 percent of households in the city, she added.

The program continues in Barangay 377, Sta. Cruz, Manila on Thursday, before returning to Quezon City on Friday for a distribution activity in Barangay Sta. Monica. (PNA)