Photo courtesy of RTVM.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brushed aside renewed speculation about his health during a rice aid distribution event by publicly lifting sacks of rice in front of beneficiaries.
The chief executive personally handed out rice packs and at one point repeatedly hoisted a sack, drawing attention to his physical condition amid lingering questions about his wellbeing.
The gesture appeared to answer claims that his health had weakened following his earlier hospitalization for diverticulitis this year.
Earlier in the week, Marcos had already denied the rumors in a press briefing, where he performed light exercises to show he was fit to lead.
The President was in Manila to lead the rollout of a rice subsidy initiative aimed at supporting workers and low income households.
The program, funded through assistance to local government units, has a budget of Php286 million and is expected to benefit tens of thousands of families over a six month period.
Marcos said he continues to aim for a future where no Filipino goes hungry by the end of his term, stressing that efforts to expand food access remain a priority.
He added that working through local governments allows faster and more accurate delivery of aid, noting that national level data on beneficiaries may not always reflect current conditions.
