Manila, April 9 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance to village beneficiaries in Pilar, Bataan, aimed at helping communities cope with the adverse impact of the Middle East crisis.

The PHP8 billion in cash aid for 42,000 villages was rolled out under the Bawat Barangay Makinabang Program, granting PHP200,000 to each barangay recipient for educational, social, and economic projects.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said village beneficiaries are entitled to spend half of the PHP200,000 in assistance to implement their projects.

Recto said PHP100,000 will be allocated for street lights, patrol vehicles, and closed-circuit television cameras to promote safety, as well as for ...