A total of 69,191 indigent households from 18 local government units (LGUs) have started receiving rice assistance from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), the Albay Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) chief said Wednesday.

Albay PSWDO chief Maria Vivien Cea said the program has a PHP135 million allocation under the LGSF, with each qualified household to receive 10 kilograms of rice every other month.

“This will be distributed in three tranches for all the beneficiaries of the rice aid. The first tranche was completed in June, while the second tranche is ongoing. The distribution is expected to continue through December,” she said.

Cea said the beneficiaries were identified through the local social welfare and development officers of the respective LGUs.

Based on PSWDO data, the first district has 19,469 beneficiary households, the second district has 24,670, and the third district has 25,052, for a total of 69,191 households.

For 65-year-old Edwena Mangampo of Barangay Taysan, Legazpi City, the rice assistance helps reduce her family’s food expenses and ease her dependence on her children for financial support.

“It is a big help because this can last us for about two weeks, and we no longer have to take the money from our budget. I have been relying on my children, so this also eases the burden on them,” Mangampo said.

Bella Jadie, 55, also of Taysan, said the assistance allows her family to use money normally spent on rice for other necessities, including food and medicines.

“Instead of buying rice, we can use the money for viand while also helping us with the maintenance medicines of my child, my husband, and myself,” Jadie said.

Meanwhile, 52-year-old Lea Romero of Taysan said the assistance provides support to single mothers like her who have no spouse or regular source of income.

“It is a big help, especially when we have nothing left to cook. As a single mother with no husband to provide for us, having rice to depend on helps a lot,” Romero said.

The LGSF is a national government fund that supports local government programs addressing the needs of indigent communities, including the rice assistance being implemented in Albay. (PNA)