• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 125,735 poor and near-poor households across Negros Occidental are set to receive food relief, following the rollout of a P171-million national government rice assistance program.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said on Tuesday, July 21 these households were identified using data from the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) conducted by the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
Under the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative funded through the support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., each qualified beneficiary family will receive a 10-kilogram sack of rice.
The CBMS database was utilized to pinpoint families strictly classified as poor and near-poor to ensure the aid reaches those most in need.
Diaz said the release of the rice aid will be carried out in two separate phases, with the initial round of distribution slated to start within the third quarter and the second round set before end of the year.
To maximize the program’s reach and maintain fairness, the provincial government is working in close coordination with local government units to cross-check lists and prevent any duplication of beneficiaries who may already be receiving parallel rice aid from their respective cities or municipalities. | GPB
