The Makati City Council has approved an ordinance granting annual cash and rice assistance to students enrolled in the city’s public schools, from day care to senior high school, including those in Special Education programs.

City Ordinance 2025-A-024 provides yearly incentives of P3,500 for day care, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and elementary pupils, and P7,000 for junior and senior high school students. The assistance will be released in two tranches every June and December.

Students covered by the measure will also receive five kilos of rice monthly, to be distributed by the City Education Department in coordination with the Makati Social Welfare Department.

The ordinance aims to ease financial pressures on low-income households, reduce absenteeism and dropouts, and support student welfare by ensuring families have basic resources needed for schooling.

Makati Mayor Nancy Binay said the measure is intended to help families manage school-related expenses and daily needs. She said no parent should be forced to choose between food and education, adding that the program seeks to keep students focused on attending school.

The ordinance was authored by Councilors Joel Ariones, Mayeth Casal-Uy, Ferdie Eusebio, Dino Imperial, Arlene Ortega, Levy Ramboyong, Kristina Sarosa, Bernadette Sese, Bel Vitales, King Yabut Jr. and Tristan Pangilinan.

It was endorsed by Councilor Felix L. Imperial, chair of the Committee on Laws, Rules and Ethics, and approved during the City Council’s 29 October regular session.

Funding will come from the city’s annual budget under education and social welfare appropriations. The ordinance takes effect on 1 April 2026 after publication.