President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the rollout of rice assistance to 16,000 beneficiaries in Puerto Princesa City, saying the government’s revamped Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) is designed to bring services faster and closer to communities.

The distribution, held at the Edward Hagedorn Coliseum, formed part of the administration’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (All Towns Will Benefit) initiative and the President’s day-long visit to Palawan.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo “Cecil” Rodriguez Bayron, Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Chaves Alvarez and 3rd District Rep. Gil “Kabarangay Jr.” Acosta joined Marcos during the activity.

The initiative is funded through the LGSF, which provides financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) to implement programs and projects that address the needs of their constituents.

Marcos said the administration has overhauled the LGSF to make government assistance more responsive and efficient.

The President said the previous system made it difficult for LGUs to access the fund because of lengthy approval and validation processes.

Instead of national agencies implementing projects directly, he said local governments are now given a greater role in identifying beneficiaries and delivering assistance.

Under the program, qualified beneficiaries receive 10 kilograms of rice every two months.

The beneficiaries in Puerto Princesa include solo parents, senior citizens and low-income earners.

Marcos said the program also benefits local farmers because the rice distributed under the initiative is purchased directly from them.

As of Wednesday, he said 1,276 LGUs nationwide had already received financial assistance from the program.

Aside from food assistance, the LGSF also finances priority local projects, including infrastructure and community facilities.

In Palawan, completed LGSF-funded projects include the rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Tagabinit, the concreting of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Marufinas and the solar electrification of Barangay New Panggangan, all in Puerto Princesa City.

Marcos said ensuring food security remains among his administration’s top priorities.

“Ang kaisa-isang pinakamalaking bagay ay sana naman ay matulungan natin ‘yung mga kababayan natin na hindi nakakatiyak sa kanilang pagkain (The single most important thing is to help our fellow citizens who are uncertain about their next meal),” Marcos said.

He added that the administration is hoping to eliminate hunger in the country.

“Sana masabi natin, dumating ang araw na masasabi natin, ‘Wala nang gutom na Pilipino (I hope the day will come when we can say— ‘There are no more hungry Filipinos’),” he said. (PNA)