MANILA, Philippines- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday announced that local government units (LGUs) would provide free rice to their constituents through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) by April, as part of the government's efforts to help Filipinos cushion the impact of rising oil prices.
In a press conference in Malacañang, Marcos said the LGUs would roll out the rice program under the expanded LGSF "within the next week or two."
"So we used the LGSF, the Local Government Support Fund and it will be directly released to our local governments so that they themselves can provide assistance faster," Marcos said.
Under the program, the President said that each LGU would provide at least 50 percent of the LGSF funds for the purchase and distribution of rice to their constituents.
"They can use 100 percent of the fund for the rice distribution but it is up to them. But it is necessary that at least 50 percent of the funds they receive must be used to purchase and distribute rice," he added.
