Over 650 Carles residents receive aid under provincial program

By Mariela Angella Oladive

More than 650 residents of Carles received PHP 3,000 in financial assistance and purchased PHP 20-per-kilo rice under the SiPag at Tiyaga for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas program on Nov. 28, as the Iloilo Provincial Government expanded its whole-of-province convergence strategy for food security, agriculture, and social support.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the distribution reflects the province’s unified approach to agricultural production, health prevention, nutrition improvement, and social welfare services.

The program consolidates efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) by linking rice production under Program SERBISYO (System Enhancement for Rice to Booster, Increase and Sustain Yields Onwards), the nutrition-driven ART Response (Adequate food production, Rehabilitation of malnutrition, and Training and capacity building of nutrition workers), and the AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) financial aid initiative.

The event also included the national Benteng Bigas program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which provides quality rice at subsidized rates to eligible recipients.

“This SiPag at Tiyaga supports President Bongbong Marcos’ Benteng Bigas,” Defensor said, emphasizing that the province’s framework strategically positions agriculture as a frontline response to health and nutrition challenges.

In Carles alone, PHP 2,022,000 in aid was distributed to 674 beneficiaries from 33 mainland and island barangays.

Beneficiaries were selected based on need, nutrition-related priorities, and community service involvement. Priority was given to AICS beneficiaries; families with malnourished children; and workers in barangay health units, day care centers, schools, disaster response teams, and public hospitals.

“You are the right beneficiaries of the provincial assistance and Benteng Bigas,” Defensor told attendees.

He also highlighted the sustainability feature of the province’s agriculture-to-nutrition model, which links hybrid rice production with milling and continued delivery of affordable rice.

“Our rice goes back to the SiPag at Tiyaga program so we can maintain the supply of affordable rice for beneficiaries,” he added.

Since the program’s launch in Ajuy, more than 11,000 individuals have received aid.

Defensor said the province will continue enhancing the convergence strategy to ensure agriculture reinforces nutrition, health, and social welfare objectives.

The program operates under the Iloilo MoRProGRes banner, which seeks to build a more resilient and food-secure province.