SOUTH COTABATO -The Provincial Government of South Cotabato is strengthening its rice assistance program by ensuring that beneficiaries receive quality rice while at the same time supporting local farmers and agricultural cooperatives in the province.
A total of 203,333 beneficiaries is expected to benefit from the rice assistance program, which is being implemented with funding support from the National Government through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
The program has a total allocation of ₱122 million, providing substantial assistance to families and individuals who are among the intended beneficiaries of the provincial government’s food assistance initiative.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. said the provincial government is giving particular attention to the quality of rice being distributed, including its source, procurement, handling, and storage.
“Galing South Cotabato ang bigas na binibigay natin. Hindi pa tayo bumibili outside. To make sure na ’yong bigas na dini-distribute natin ay produce talaga ng mga taga-South Cotabato. At wala tayong storage dito para mag-store nang napakatagal, dahil wala pa tayong silo.” Tamayo Said
The move is intended not only to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality rice but also to provide an additional market for locally produced agricultural products.
The rice distributed under the program comes from three local agricultural cooperatives: the Binhian ng Timog Kutabato Multipurpose Agricultural Cooperative (BINTIKU MPAC), the Sto. Niño Farmers Agricultural Cooperative (SANFICO), and the Upper Valley Agriculture Cooperative (UVACO).
These cooperatives are composed of local farmers, making the rice assistance program beneficial not only to the recipients but also to producers within the province.
Project Evaluation Officer I Jester A. Alcantara said the procurement process underwent the necessary evaluation and procedures before the contracts were awarded to the selected suppliers.
“The process was conducted in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to ensure that the procurement complied with the required government procedures,” Alcantara said.
The involvement of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist also provides an avenue for the provincial government to coordinate with the agricultural sector and identify local sources capable of supplying the required volume of rice.
The third round of rice distribution is expected to continue until the end of September 2026, covering beneficiaries included in the current distribution cycle. The fourth round of distribution is meanwhile scheduled to be implemented by the end of November 2026.
The ₱122-million rice assistance program, funded through the National Government’s Local Government Support Fund, therefore serves two important purposes: providing food support to 203,333 beneficiaries and creating a market opportunity for South Cotabato farmers.
By procuring rice from local agricultural cooperatives such as BINTIKU MPAC, SANFICO, and UVACO, the provincial government is helping strengthen the province’s agricultural sector while delivering essential food assistance to communities.
