ILOILO CITY — The local government here has started distributing rice assistance to vulnerable sectors under a national government-funded program that will provide each beneficiary with a total of 30 kilograms of rice in three separate releases this year.
The rollout of the Bigay Bigas sa Masa Rice Program officially began on Monday, June 29, at the La Paz Gymnasium, where 1,030 beneficiaries received the first 10 kg allocation.
The city received P72 million from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to implement the program, which targets 41,958 households identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Recipients include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers, and other low-income families.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the city moved quickly to begin the distribution so assistance could immediately reach residents in need.
Under the program, beneficiaries will receive 10 kg of rice in June, another 10 kg in August, and the final 10 kg in October, bringing the total assistance to 30 kg per household for 2026.
Treñas said future distributions will be delivered directly to beneficiaries' homes to make the process more accessible and convenient.
She also announced that the city government has set aside additional funds to provide rice and grocery assistance during the Christmas season, extending support beyond the three scheduled distributions.
“Next year, if there is no funding from the national government, we will continue the program. This is a good program because families need rice every day,” she added.
The LGSF allocation is part of the national government's initiative to channel priority funds directly to local government units to speed up the implementation of assistance programs and minimize administrative delays.
Earlier this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the direct release of LGSF allocations to local government units to accelerate the delivery of basic services and government assistance.