TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — The Bohol provincial government has completed the first round of rice distribution under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, providing 10-kilo rice packs to 86,142 identified families across the province.
It is the first of four planned distribution cycles, said Paul Rabuya of the provincial government’s Bids and Awards Committee.
The national government released P196 million for the program through the Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU) component of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
Bohol received the Notice of Authority to Debit Account Issued (NADAI) from the Bureau of the Treasury on March 18, informing Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado that the funds had been deposited in the province’s general fund account.
With the funds available and recipient officials accountable for managing them in compliance with Republic Act 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and national auditing laws, the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee opened the bidding.
Bohol Budget Officer Peter Ross Retutal said a few suppliers could meet the required volume.
“Imagine supplying 10 kilo bags of rice worth 196 million, in Bohol alone, with all the rice requirements for the people, we would be lucky to find one to supply. Even in large rice-producing areas, when they too would be supplying the needs of their communities, the demand is simply too big to deliver right away,” Retutal said.
As counterpart funding, Aumentado asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) to put up local funds.
Bohol Administrator Aster Caberte said the province allotted P11 million from local coffers to meet the target coverage of vulnerable sectors. Provincial Treasurer Eustaquio Socorin confirmed the amount.
As instructed, local government units identified the most vulnerable beneficiaries in their localities eligible for the program.
The first round ran from May 14 to June 10, reaching beneficiaries in municipalities and Tagbilaran City across the province.
Provincial government teams delivered the rice with the supplier, as provided in the contract.
The provincial government is preparing the next cycle, in which the same 86,142 beneficiaries will receive 10-kilo packs, Rabuya said.
He said the fourth and final cycle is scheduled for December. (Rey Anthony Chiu / PIA Bohol)
