More than 111,000 Cagayan residents are set to benefit from the government’s social and development assistance under the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” Program, an initiative designed to provide direct food aid, funding for community projects and educational support.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. launched the program at the Cagayan Coliseum on Friday as part of the administration’s efforts to promote inclusive development and strengthen the localized delivery of social services through the local government units (LGUs).

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) noted that a total of 111,333 beneficiaries from the province will receive 10 kilograms of rice every two months under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, which aims to provide rice assistance to vulnerable sectors.

More than 3,000 beneficiaries in Tuguegarao City received the subsidized rice, the PCO added.

Each village also received PHP200,000 from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF), with PHP100,000 of the total budget allocated for scholarships of indigent students while the remaining PHP100,000 earmarked for local community projects and initiatives.

Around 4,100 scholars from 820 villages in Cagayan would also benefit from the government’s educational support.

Villages are authorized to select five student scholars each, with every scholar receiving PHP20,000 in educational assistance.

PCO data also showed that the government has allotted PHP154.2 million for 771 villages across Cagayan.

The PCO said around PHP9.8 million would be distributed to 49 villages in Tuguegarao City under the SCPF. (PNA)