The Iloilo Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to a whole-of-province convergence strategy as more than 650 residents of Carles received ₱3,000 financial aid and purchased ₱20/kilo rice under the SiPag at Tiyaga for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas program.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the distribution demonstrates the Province’s unified approach to agricultural production, health prevention, nutrition improvement, and social welfare support.
The rollout included the national Benteng Bigas program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which provides high-quality rice at an affordable price to qualified beneficiaries.
“Ining aton SiPag at Tiyaga nagasuporta sa Benteng Bigas ni President Bongbong Marcos,” he said, underscoring how national and local initiatives reinforce one another in improving food and nutrition security.
Defensor also explained that Iloilo’s convergence framework positions agriculture as a frontline health and nutrition intervention.
Through coordinated efforts with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Province combines rice production under Program SERBISYO (System Enhancement for Rice to Booster, Increase and Sustain Yields Onwards) with the nutrition-focused ART (Adequate food production, Rehabilitation of malnutrition, and Training and capacity building of nutrition workers) Response, and complements these with the AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) financial support program.
In Carles alone, ₱2,022,000 worth of assistance was released to 674 beneficiaries from 33 mainland and island barangays.
Defensor stressed that beneficiaries are carefully selected based on need and alignment with the Province’s nutrition goals.
Under his executive order, priority beneficiaries included AICS recipients, families with malnourished children, and workers in key community sectors such as barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, day care staff, teachers, DRRM personnel, and public hospital staff.
“Kamo ang husto nga benepesyaryo sang assistance kag sang Benteng Bigas sang aton president kag sang aton nutrition program,” he said.
The Governor also emphasized the sustainability component of the Province’s agriculture-to-nutrition system.
The hybrid rice program helps secure palay supply for milling and affordable rice distribution, ensuring the Province can maintain its food security interventions.
“Ang aton humay nga ginabalik sa SiPag at Tiyaga Program, ipagaling naton kag may bugas kita… masustinir naton ang barato nga bugas para sa benepesyaryo,” he said.
With more than 11,000 beneficiaries reached since the first rollout in Ajuy, Defensor said Iloilo will continue to expand and strengthen its convergence framework so that agriculture fully supports nutrition, health, and social welfare programs.
“Kung ikumbinar naton ang agriculture sa nutrition program naton, ang agriculture indi lang mangin pagpanguma. … mangin source ini sang carbohydrates, protein, nutrients, and other minerals,” he said, affirming that the Province is building a resilient and food-secure Iloilo under the MoRProGRes banner.
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