Manila, July 30 -- A total of 500 residents of this town availed of rice priced at PHP20 per kilogram under the Benteng Bigas Meron Na! Program on Thursday.

Emily Bugnot, 46, a person with disability (PWD) and a solo parent of seven children, thanked the national government for the program.

"The low-price rice is of great help to me as a PWD and also as a solo parent. I am the only one working, so it is really a big help," she said in Filipino during an interview.

Bugnot is a widow working as a housekeeper, with three of her children still in her care.

"I hope the President would continue this program, which is helpful to poor people like us," she added.

Robert Gondayao, 64, said he is giving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. a high ...