A TOTAL of 113 families have received a sack of rice each in a recent community outreach program in a far-flung village in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, officials said.

The community outreach program was a joint project of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion and the municipality of Dumingag.

The beneficiaries of the rice distribution were the 113 families of Sunop, a far-flung village of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Dumingag Mayor Joan Abejuela said that going to far-flung villages to deliver government services is one way to "empower communities."

"Since the residents cannot go down, it is our mandate to deliver the government and its services to them," Abejuela said.

Abejuela expressed gratitude to the military for "keeping always on the watch, and keeping our residents safe." (SunStar Zamboanga)