Government Distributes Rice Aid to Thousands Amid Rising Costs
Families in Ilocos Sur receive 10-kilo rice packages funded through national support funds.
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According to the PIA, the national government provided 10-kilo bags of rice to low-income families in Santiago, Ilocos Sur, on July 30 as part of an ongoing aid distribution to lessen the impact of rising commodity and fuel costs. The funding comes from the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU).
The relief drive is part of the provincial government’s “One Ilocos Sur Rice Program,” which allocated P90 million to assist 50,000 target beneficiaries. The assistance is structured into three distribution periods:
- First tranche in June
- Second tranche in July
- Final tranche scheduled for October
During the July 30 release, 817 beneficiaries in Santiago received their second rice delivery. Additionally, the municipal government of Santiago received P5 million directly under the LGSF program to distribute rice to 3,205 local residents, focusing on:
- Low-income and near-poor households
- Vulnerable family members
- Minimum-wage earners
Local resident Tessie Pasion, from Barangay San Jose, explained that high market prices and low rainfall have placed heavy pressure on her family of four.
“This assistance is a huge relief for us. We are a family of four, and with soaring prices, particularly rice, our situation has become more difficult,” Pasion said.
She added that relying on diesel-powered pumps during dry spells is no longer affordable for small-scale farming. “Back then, we used wells or traditional water pumps when rain was scarce, but relying on fuel has become impractical as prices continue to rise,” Pasion said. “We are beyond grateful for this assistance, which we receive not just once, but thrice this year. It is a fundamental lifeline for our family.”
Farmer Efren Agbulos noted that high fuel prices prevented him from planting his crops on schedule. “We haven’t transplanted our rice seedlings because we cannot afford fuel right now,” Agbulos said. “Thank you to the government, especially President Marcos, for stepping up when we need it most.”
The provincial and municipal food assistance drives are set to conduct their third and final distribution round in October 2026.
In a related report, La Union also implemented their share of the LGSF.
SOURCE: PIA
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