Marcos rolls out new aid program

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the pilot rollout of the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program in four Metro Manila cities on Wednesday, targeting vulnerable households as part of a broader effort to expand social support nationwide.

In Muntinlupa, the city identified about 1,900 indigent families across nine villages as initial beneficiaries, with plans to scale coverage to 31,000 families citywide.

The program combines direct food assistance with funding for community projects and education support, reflecting the administration’s push to localize aid delivery.

Each village received a P200,000 grant, totaling P1.8 million for the city, to finance priority initiatives at the community level.

The rollout also included financial assistance for 45 scholars, five per village, who will each receive P20,000 under the Presidential Scholars Support program.

Separately, in Parañaque City, the President led a series of interventions at the Don Bosco Village Gym along Doña Soledad Avenue aimed at reinforcing local safety nets.

Mr. Marcos observed an orientation for 80 Bagong Pilipinas Barangay scholars funded under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) and witnessed the distribution of motorized stainless food carts to village captains to support livelihood and food access. 

The Parañaque program also included the rollout of rice assistance under the Local Government Support Fund and the ceremonial turnover of P3.2 million in SCPF financial assistance to the city’s 16 villages.

The pilot launch also covered Pasay and Las Piñas. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana