Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto affirmed that the Marcos administration’s flagship rice distribution initiative effectively achieves two core national objectives: feeding nearly eight million vulnerable Filipino families while driving agricultural growth by purchasing directly from local farmers.
Recto highlighted the dual benefit during a distribution activity in the municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon, where he spearheaded the release of 10-kilogram rice packs to 1,500 families alongside the turnover of Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) checks to all 464 barangays across the province.
The event launched the first of four scheduled rounds of rice distribution under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution Program. Upon full implementation, approximately 8,000 families in the municipality of Quezon will receive 10 kilograms of rice every two months.
“Dala rin po namin ngayong araw ang rice program ng Pangulo para matiyak na walang Pilipinong magugutom. Sa buong Pilipinas, halos walong milyong pamilya ang makikinabang,” Recto stated. “At ang maganda sa programang ito, ang bigas na matatanggap ninyo ay galing mismo sa ani ng ating mga magsasaka.”
Across the province of Bukidnon, the national government has allocated P178 million in dedicated rice assistance to benefit 261,000 families, including a P5-million allocation earmarked specifically for Quezon’s 8,000 beneficiary households.
Addressing long-term sustainability, Recto assured residents that the assistance program is designed to extend far beyond the current budget year, highlighting a proposed P58.53-billion allocation for the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) in the 2027 national budget.
“Sa susunod na taon, madadagdagan pa ang [LGSF] na siyang nagpopondo sa libreng bigas. Ibig sabihin, hindi po ito pang-isang taon lamang. Tuloy-tuloy ang suporta, at tuloy-tuloy ang libreng bigas,” Recto emphasized.
In addition to food distribution, Malacañang turned over SCPF checks worth P200,000 to each of Bukidnon’s 464 barangays, marking the first time every barangay in the province has received direct financial grants from the Office of the President.
Under the terms of the financial grant, half of each barangay’s allocation (P100,000) is designated to provide P20,000 in educational grants to five graduating college students, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder deserving youth from earning their degrees.
Recto called on local chief executives and barangay leaders to exercise absolute integrity and stewardship over the distributed public funds.
“Kaya sa ating mga mayor at kapitan: alagaan po ninyo ang tiwala ng ating Pangulo at ng inyong mga kabarangay. Tiyakin nating bawat pisong ipinagkatiwala sa inyo ay makarating sa mga taong tunay na nangangailangan,” Recto concluded.