By Valerie Jane L. Taguba

BARLIG, Mountain Province (PIA) — Beneficiaries from Barangays Fiangtin and Gawana in Barlig received  50 kilograms of rice each through the government’s continuing assistance program for vulnerable communities during a distribution activity at the Barlig Municipal Capitol on August 27.

The assistance funded under the Local Government Support Fund–Growth Equity Fund (LGSF-GEF) provided a total of 16,500 kilograms of rice to  330 qualified beneficiaries, bringing food support to households in the two remote barangays of Barlig

Mayor Clark C. Ngaya, through Trisha Ngaya, said that the rice assistance is government support, not a donation, emphasizing that each qualified household is entitled to 50 kilograms of rice.

“This rice came from the Local Government Support Fund. Nagapo daytoy from the government, haan nga donation. Every household will be given 50 klgs, ” she said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the inclusion of the rice assistance program in the 2026 LGSF as part of the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative.

Ngaya explained that the decision to distribute the rice in a single 50-kilogram allocation was intended to address logistical and storage concerns while reducing the need for beneficiaries from remote communities to repeatedly travel to the municipal center to claim their assistance.

“Originally, it’s supposed to be 10 kilograms per month nga mai-distribute, but because we lack the appropriate storage and narigat ti sumubli-subli kayu, isunga in 50 kilos mi lattan,” she added.

For beneficiary Juanita Paculan of Barangay Fiangtin, the rice assistance will provide substantial relief to her household by helping reduce their food expenses in the coming months.

“Agasem dayta nga 50 kilos., manu nga bulan nga kanek dayta? It will take six months. Isukapay jai haanak nga gumatang. This is a very big help to us,” Paculan said.

(Just imagine, how many months will 50 kilograms of rice last for me? It will last for six months. That means I will not have to buy rice. This is a very big help to us.)

The local government unit of Barlig shared that six other barangays in the municipality have already conducted similar rice distribution activities in their respective areas

The initiative is under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program that seeks to ensure that government assistance reaches communities and sectors in need of support, including those in geographically remote areas.

Through LGSF-funded assistance, the local government continues to complement the national government’s efforts in providing food for the community. (JDP/VJLT – PIA-CAR, Mountain Province)

Published Date: August 31, 2026