MANILA, Philippines — THE Valenzuela City government has launched this year's 'Pasko sa Hulyo para kay Lolo at Lola' (Christmas in July for Grandpa and Grandma) where some 69, 025 registered senior citizens will receive their early Christmas gifts.

Mayor Weslie "Wes" Gatchalian told The Manila Times that the annual gift-giving the initial salvo of gift distribution for the elderly.

Beneficiaries will get two bags of rice weighing five kilos each.

"We are not just giving away rice, but the rice we give is good and high quality. I am proud to say that our rice is newly harvested, from the province of Isabela," the mayor said.

The city government established a partnership with the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Isabela Agriculture Cooperative and procured rice as a way of supporting farmers in Northern Luzon, he added.

The distribution would run for five days to cover all the 33 villages in the city, public information officer Mara Salazar-Ignacio said.

On its first day, some 12,491 senior citizens from the villages of Wawang Pulo, Balangkas, Arkong Bato, Poblacion, Pulo, Pariancillo Villa, Palasan, Isla, Bisig, Mabolo, Tagalog, Pasolo, Rincon and Malinta already received their sacks of rice.

To claim their gift, the recipient would have to bring the voucher and their OSCA identification card.

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