TARLAC CITY (PIA) — For Loida San Buenaventura of Barangay Tibagan, Tarlac City, a 10-kilogram sack of rice means more than temporary relief because it provides two weeks of meals for her family, school allowances for her children, and maintenance medicine for her husband who has a heart condition.
San Buenaventura was among the 3,077 residents who received rice assistance under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)-Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, which forms part of the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program, during the distribution led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 30 at the Tarlac City Civic Center.
A mother of four, San Buenaventura helps support her family through a small sari-sari store while three of her children remain in school.
“Malaking tulong po talaga ito sa amin. Hindi na po kami bibili ng bigas, pang-ulam na lang po ang iintindihin, at makakatulong pa po sa baon ng mga bata ang matitipid namin,” she said.
She explained that her family usually stretches five kilograms of rice worth about P250 for one week.
San Buenaventura said the 10-kilogram rice subsidy will last about two weeks and allow the family to redirect their limited income to other urgent needs, particularly her husband’s maintenance medicines.
“Imbes na pambili ng bigas, magagamit namin sa gamot ng asawa ko. Sobra po kaming masaya na maging benepisyaryo dahil malaking tipid po ito para sa amin,” she added.
Her story reflects the goal of the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program, which seeks to translate national government resources into immediate and measurable benefits for households that struggle with daily food expenses.
The rice subsidy is funded under the reformed LGSF, which the national government implements in partnership with local government units (LGUs) to speed up the delivery of assistance.
In his message, President Marcos said the administration restructured the LGSF so that local governments could identify beneficiaries and distribute aid more quickly.
“Mas mabilis ang pagbaba ng serbisyo at benepisyo na galing sa national government dahil maganda ang pagsasama at pagtutulungan ng local government at national government,” the President said.
He added that the program aims to help families who are uncertain of their next meal and forms part of the administration’s broader effort to reduce hunger.
“At ito po ay tuluy-tuloy po namin gagawin hanggang masabi po natin ay sana dumating ang araw wala nang gutom na Pilipino,” Marcos said.
According to the President, beneficiaries under the rice component of the program will receive 10 kilograms of rice six times a year, or once every two months, to provide more sustained food support.
The Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program combines national government funding and local government implementation to deliver assistance directly to communities.
Under the reformed LGSF, LGUs identify beneficiaries and distribute support such as the 10-kilogram rice subsidy.
The program also includes a barangay-level social and civic component that provides funds for local priorities, including educational assistance for selected students.
For San Buenaventura, however, the impact is already visible at home.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa naitulong niya sa mga katulad naming hirap sa buhay. Sana po ay tuloy-tuloy ang ganitong tulong,” she said.
Her family’s experience shows that a simple food intervention can generate a chain of benefits, including rice on the table, money saved for medicine, and additional support for children’s education.
The program does more than distribute rice because it helps families cope with poverty and protect their well-being.
As the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang program continues nationwide, the government aims to make assistance faster, more targeted, and more responsive to the realities faced by families in the barangays, where every peso saved can be redirected to food, medicine, and education. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
