At least 1,000 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) each received on Wednesday 25 kilos of rice from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Taguig City.
In his speech, President Marcos informed the 4Ps beneficiaries that the sacks of rice distributed to them were part of the 42,180 smuggled rice confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Zamboanga.
“Kayo po ang nararapat na makinabang sa mga ito,” President Marcos said.
President Marcos reiterated that the Philippines has enough rice supply and the buffer stock is sufficient, but is just being destroyed by the rice smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators.
“Alam po ninyo, wala naman po sanang problema sa bigas. Marami po ang supply natin. Marami po ang ating suplay. Ngunit dahil sa mga smuggler, hoarder, [at] price manipulator na iyan, naiipit ang suplay kaya’t nagbabago at tumataas ang ating mga presyo,” President Marcos said.
“Hindi tayo papayag na patuloy na mamayagpag ang mga mapagsamantalang pumipinsala sa ating kabuhayan at sa buong sektor ng agrikultura,” the chief executive added.
In fact, President Marcos said that the government has already filed smuggling charges against the San Pedro Warehouse and Blue Sakura Agri Grain Corporation, the F.S. Ostia Rice Mill, and the Gold Rush Rice Mill.
President Marcos earlier led rice distribution initiatives in Tungawan, Zamboanga; Brgy. San Roque Zamboanga City; Brgy. Santiago, General Trias; Iriga City, Camarines; San Andres Sports Complex, San Andres Manila; Dapa Municipal Gymnasium, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; and Dinagat Islands. | PND
Photo Courtesy by PCO