Rice relief for Manila’s working class continued as Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso brought 10-kilogram packs of commercial rice directly to workers at the McDonald’s branch along UN-Del Pilar under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Biyayang Bigas para sa Maynila” program.
Domagoso said the city deliberately chose to conduct distributions at workplaces rather than at central locations to avoid disrupting business operations and employees’ daily routines, with more rounds scheduled every other month over the next six months.
“Ito ay gagawin nang sama-sama para sa inyong lahat.”
“Huwag kayong mag-alala, kita ninyo, dito kami pumunta. At ito ay gagawin nang sama-sama para sa inyong lahat,” the mayor said, adding that the program would continue reaching workers where they are. “Kapag gusto, maraming paraan.”
The ongoing distribution is part of the capital city’s effort to reach approximately 80,000 individuals and workers in Manila, funded by a P286-million release from the Office of the President to the city government through the Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU) program.
“This is for our working class in the City of Manila, and we are very proud of you.”
“This is for our working class in the City of Manila, and we are very proud of you because of what you’re doing for the companies that you serve. Kung kayo’y nagsisipag, magiging masipag, lalago ang negosyo. Paglago ng negosyo, mas maraming negosyong mabubuksan,” he stressed.
Domagoso also described the initiative as an effort to cushion the social and economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has driven up the cost of basic goods and strained household budgets, particularly for ordinary wage earners in the city.
Workers who received rice at an earlier distribution at SM City Manila said the program was making a tangible difference.
Marcos, together with Domagoso, launched the program with its pilot distribution at SM City Manila last April 16, where he expressed hope that the initiative would help eradicate hunger in the country before the end of his term.
The President also credited Manila for being first off the mark, saying the city’s Office of the Mayor consistently moves quickly whenever the national government opens a program.
“Kapag nagbubukas kami ng programa, nauuna. Sinasabi ko: ‘Sino iyong handa, sino iyong ready? Maynila pwede na daw bukas.’ Eh, di iyon — punta na ako sa Maynila,” Marcos explained.
