STA. RITA -- Information from the Provincial Government of Pampanga had placed the total cost of the rice aid to all 505 villages of the province to P80 million.

Government Dennis Pineda said the rice aid aims to support Kapampangan families amid the coronavirus.

Pineda had earlier placed the cost at P75 million. The P80-million budget has been downloaded to the Land Bank of the Philippines and will be transferred to the fund to the accounts of barangays, according to the information.

Vice Governor Lilia Pineda and the Provincial Board approved the funding after Pampanga was placed under a state of calamity.

The governor was quoted on saying that the purchasing of rice will be done at the barangay level so as to expedite the purchase and distribution.

“The recipients are going to be the poorest households and daily wage earners who could not go to work and feed their family because they are ordered to stay home,” the governor said.

Pineda urged village officials to buy rice from local growers to help enliven the economy.

“Giving food assistance and health services to the poor are our priorities in the provincial government as Pampanga and the rest of country battle Covid-19. Vice Governor Nanay and the provincial board members continue to be with me. We are working together to ease the impact of COVID-19 to all our sectors,” the governor said.