AS what he would always promise to his constituents, especially those from the vulnerable sectors, Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan said the local government has begun implementing the Assistance to Indigent Individuals of Families-Food Assistance Rice Distribution Program to ensure food security among low-income families and other vulnerable sectors amid rising product costs.
The large-scale rice distribution program shall be under the coordination of the City Social Welfare and Development Department and will provide 10 kilograms of rice for around 432,000 qualified households in the city every two months, from May to December 2026.
“Ito po ay isa lamang sa ating mga programa upang matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng kasiguraduhan sa suplay ng pagkain lalo na ngayong patuloy pa rin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin.”
The local chief executive likewise emphasized that the urban poor, minimum wage earners, persons with disabilities, and other members of vulnerable sectors will always be the priority beneficiaries in the city government’s social protection and assistance programs.
Under the program “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang,” the mayor announced that each barangay will receive a P200,000-allocation from the special financial assistance, which will be used for the provision of educational assistance and to support public service projects.
Caloocan’s Calm Space
The Malapitan administration has inaugurated the Caloocan Calm Space, an initiative meant to provide free and accessible relaxation and mindfulness activities to promote better mental health awareness among the city’s constituents.
The mayor continued to acknowledge that mental health is still a growing concern, especially among young people and students experiencing anxiety, depression, and burnout.
He then emphasized that prioritizing health programs necessarily includes mental health and that his administration will continue to support this advocacy.
“Sa pagbisita natin sa mga komunidad at sa mga eskwelahan, nakita po natin na malaking issue pa rin sa mga kabataan ang pagkakaroon ng mental health concerns kaya naman po naging bahagi ng mga programang pangkalusugan natin ang pagtitiyak na maayos ang kalagayang pangkaisipan ng lahat,” Malapitan added.
