RICE ASSISTANCE to be provided: “Beneficiaries of this assistance will be vulnerable individuals such as PWDs, senior citizens, and indigent families” - Kalinga Prov’l Agriculturist Aowat

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Preparations are underway for the distribution of rice assistance to qualified beneficiaries in Kalinga, as part of the government’s efforts to ease the impact of rising food prices brought about by the fuel crisis.

On Monday, April 20, the Management Committee (MANCOM) of Kalinga, led by Provincial Administrator Teddy E. Gullay, held a meeting at the Provincial Capitol New Conference Hall to discuss upcoming provincial activities, including the planned rice assistance program.

During the meeting, attended by Guru Press Cordillera, it was disclosed that the list of beneficiaries is currently being finalized by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) in coordination with concerned offices.

The initiative is backed by a ₱17,000,000 allocation from the national government, sourced through the Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance (LGSF-FA).

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the LGSF-FA is designed to assist local government units in implementing various development programs, including aid for indigent individuals covering medical, burial, transportation, food, and education.

The allocation of funds was earlier announced by Governor Edduba during a MANCOM meeting on March 23.

In the meeting, Acting Provincial Agriculturist Nancy Aowat emphasized that the assistance will prioritize those most affected by the crisis, particularly vulnerable individuals and indigent families.

“Of course, the beneficiaries of this assistance will be vulnerable individuals such as PWDs, senior citizens, and indigent families. The DSWD and other concerned offices will provide the list of these individuals registered in their systems,” Aowat said.

To ensure that the target recipients are genuinely in need, Board Member Alfredo Dangani suggested conducting follow-up surveys to verify whether those listed in agency systems truly qualify as beneficiaries.

“Ito suggestion lang ah, an honest-to-goodness suggestion: there should be further surveys so we can ensure that they are truly qualified, per barangay if possible, so there will be no doubts,” Dangani said.

Following this suggestion, concerned offices are now validating and verifying the list of beneficiaries, taking into account Dangani’s call for stricter screening to ensure fairness in the implementation of the initiative.

Once the list of beneficiaries is finalized, the provincial government is expected to announce the date and venue of the distribution.