Makati Mayor Nancy Binay announced a new program that will provide cash and rice support to public school students as she delivered her first State of the Children Address at Makati Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 17, in celebration of National Children’s Month.
During the event, Binay highlighted City Ordinance 2025‑A‑024, which authorizes the city to give annual cash incentives and a monthly rice allowance to students, including those enrolled in special education (SPED) programs.
Under the ordinance, students in day care, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary grades will receive P3,500 per school year, while junior and senior high school students will receive P7,000.
Mayor Nancy Binay. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN
The cash assistance will be distributed in two installments, in June and December, to provide families with consistent support throughout the school year.
The program also includes a monthly 5-kilogram rice subsidy, which the City Education and Social Welfare departments will deliver directly to student beneficiaries.
According to the mayor, the measure aims to help students stay in school and reduce absenteeism or dropouts caused by financial difficulties.
More than 1,000 students, teachers, child protection advocates, and representatives from NGOs attended the event, which also served as a platform to showcase Makati’s ongoing efforts to protect and promote children’s welfare.
The address marked Mayor Binay’s first State of the Children Address since taking office, signaling her focus on programs that strengthen the city’s support for its youngest residents.
