Manila: Local leaders in Iloilo province have expressed appreciation for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s programs and assistance aimed at addressing the needs of Ilonggo communities, including rice distribution, education initiatives, and village development projects.
According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. highlighted that Iloilo continues to receive priority from the national government for programs and major infrastructure projects. During the rollout of the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Distribution program in Pavia, with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto attending, Defensor emphasized the importance of these initiatives. He noted that the provincial government is procuring rice from farmers' cooperatives using PHP299 million from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). This rice distribution program is set to benefit 83,000 families and will be incorporated into the province's nutrition program to avoid duplication.
Meanwhile, Liga ng mga Barangay Iloilo president Amalia Dubuque expressed gratitude to Marcos and Recto for their assistance to communities and programs supporting students. She noted that the national government assistance through the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) is benefiting all 1,721 barangays in Iloilo. Dubuque remarked that this is an unprecedented move by a sitting president, ensuring every barangay receives direct assistance. During the orientation of presidential scholars and the release of SCPF at the Iloilo Convention Center, it was revealed that the provincial government received PHP344.2 million for distribution to the barangays, with the SCPF supporting 8,605 scholars in Iloilo.
Recto elaborated that government assistance extends beyond rice distribution to include education, health, agriculture, and other basic services. Iloilo is expected to receive about PHP29.2 billion in national tax allocation in 2027, which will support projects such as farm-to-market roads, modern barangay health centers, free medicines, irrigation and agricultural equipment, as well as faster delivery of government services. An additional Local Government Support Fund will also finance the free rice program to ensure its sustainability.
