Manila: A total of 1,281 local government units (LGUs) nationwide have so far received financial assistance under the Marcos administration's Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, Malaca±ang said Monday. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been going around the country, bringing rice and education aid to LGUs under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the President is set to lead the program rollout in Negros Oriental on Monday, where he is expected to distribute 10 kilograms of rice each to 2,230 beneficiaries from Barangay Talay and Barangay Cantil-e in Dumaguete City. The rice distribution is being implemented under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, funded through the Local Government Support Fund.

Castro emphasized that each beneficiary must receive the full 10-kilogram allocation. 'Kailangang buong sampung kilo ang makukuha ng bawat beneficiary -- hindi bawas, hindi kulang, kung hindi buong sampung kilo (Each beneficiary must receive the full ten kilos -- not less, not short. It must be the complete 10 kilos),' she stated in a Palace briefing. Beneficiaries are urged to immediately report to the Office of the President or the Presidential Communications Office if they receive less than the prescribed allocation.

Castro also stressed that the government assistance is provided free of charge and beneficiaries should not be asked to pay for the rice or any assistance under the program. The government is targeting 386,673 beneficiaries across Negros Oriental under the rice program.

Meanwhile, 2,785 Presidential Scholars in Negros Oriental are expected to benefit from assistance under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF). Under the education aid, five soon-to-graduate college students from each village will receive PHP20,000 in cash assistance. Castro mentioned that the SCPF has so far reached 38,279 villages nationwide, with the government disbursing a total of P7.66 billion under the program.

The Palace said the assistance forms part of the administration's continuing efforts to provide direct support to communities through LGUs.