Sta. Magdalena in Sorsogon province is the latest local government unit to implement the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program. The initiative, spearheaded by President Bongbong Marcos, aims to combat food insecurity and support vulnerable households.
On Saturday, the Office of the Executive Secretary and the municipal government of Sta. Magdalena launched the program to provide free rice to those in need in remote communities.
The rollout has already benefited over 2,000 residents, including solo parents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and low-income families.
Each beneficiary received 10 kilograms of rice and will receive a total of 60 kilograms over the year.
Myla Bonuel Garcia, a solo parent from Barangay San Sebastian, expressed gratitude for the program, saying, “As a solo parent with two children, this program is a big help for us. I am the sole breadwinner for my family, so the assistance we received is incredibly valuable.
“Thank you very much, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for providing us with this program and the rice aid, which brings great relief to us,” she added, speaking in Filipino.
The program, funded by the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), is designed as a multi-tranche initiative instead of a one-time giveaway.
Each qualified family or beneficiary will receive 10 kilograms of rice six times a year, totaling 60 kilograms per household annually.
In addition to the rice distribution, the event featured a ceremonial groundbreaking for approximately P95 million worth of infrastructure projects.
They included improvements to the water supply system in Barangay San Sebastian worth P30 million, construction of a farm-to-market road in Barangay San Sebastian costing P60 million, and the expansion of a multipurpose building in Barangay San Bartolome valued at P5 million.
Other projects turned over included the expansion of the multipurpose building in Barangay San Bartolome, the construction of a farm-to-market road from Barangay San Antonio to La Esperanza, and the provision of micronutrient supplementation and supplementary feeding in Barangay San Sebastian.
During the rollout, the barangays of San Sebastian, Sta. Magdalena, and Barangay Tabon-tabon in Irosin town each received one vehicle to bolster their emergency response, community services, and the delivery of government programs.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco, speaking at the project turnover, highlighted the comprehensive initiative of President Marcos’ administration, which aims to bring government programs and services directly to the barangay level.
“For the very first time, the President allocated P58 billion for local government units to expand programs that directly benefit communities. Each barangay will have five presidential scholars and additional funding for projects that address their specific needs,” she said.
Dorotan-Tiuseco added that the implementation of these LGSF-backed grassroots initiatives will continue steadily through the remaining months of 2026 and into 2027.
Municipal government units will manage the distribution of the funds from the national government.
“This shows that the President listens to the needs of the citizens and continues to promote programs that bring progress to even the most remote barangays,” she added.
Beyond offering relief to beneficiaries, the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program also supports the local agriculture sector.
Sta. Magdalena Mayor Mark Jewery Lozano said during the rice distribution that the rice provided was sourced from local farmers in Sta. Magdalena, allowing the government to support both struggling families and rice producers through local procurement.
“For vulnerable sectors living on fixed incomes, a 10-kilogram bag of rice represents significant financial relief. This program ensures that national progress is felt directly in the households of remote municipalities like Sta. Magdalena,” he said.
Source: PIA Bicol Region