Thousands of residents in Caraga (Region 13) received vital services from various government agencies during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” Saturday, coinciding with the 68th birthday of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The Department of Agriculture in the region (DA-13), with the support of local government units, spearheaded the selling of rice at PHP20 per kilo.

DA-13 said more than 7,000 residents in the region are expected to benefit from the affordable rice.

“This is a big help for my family. I was able to buy 10 kilos of rice and this is enough for more than a week of consumption for my family,” Agusan del Norte’s Argie Bagbag, 31, laborer and a father of three, said.

Another beneficiary, Evelyn Lumile, 71, from the same province was thankful for the fulfilment of the promise of President Marcos of bringing affordable rice to Filipino families.

The DA-13 said each individual may buy up to 10 kilos from any designated sites in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-13) conducted simultaneous job fairs and released livelihood support.

Over 6,000 vacancies for local and overseas jobs were offered by 76 employers.

As of 1 p.m., DOLE-13 said 22 applicants have been hired on the spot.

It also reported the release of PHP9.8 million payment for 1,602 beneficiaries of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, while PHP5.3 million were disbursed to 257 beneficiaries from across the region under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.

Under the Adjustment Measures Program, the DOLE-13 also awarded PHP10.2 million in assistance for business recovery to 175 workers from the different provinces.

Also on Saturday, 20 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from five towns in Agusan del Sur received their land titles, covering some 35.798 hectares of land, during the distribution activity of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling program.

Another 20 ARBs also got their land titles covering 99.912 hectares under the regular Land Acquisition and Distribution program.

“We have been waiting for this land title for decades, from the time of our parents. We are thankful that finally, our land title is here and we are thankful to President Marcos Jr. and the DAR,” Jean Gonzales Tagud, 49, from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, said. (PNA)