ILOILO CITY — The Municipality of Carles wrapped up the province-wide rollout of the SiPag at Tiyaga for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas program with a strong finish, bringing P3,000 cash aid and P20-per-kilo rice to more than 650 residents in one coordinated anti-poverty drive.

In what officials called the final “checkpoint” of the province’s social protection sweep, the distribution covered 674 beneficiaries from 15 mainland and 18 island barangays.

The assistance was funded through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, boosted by P2,022,000 from the provincial government.

The rice distribution is part of the Department of Agriculture’s “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” initiative, which allows households to purchase quality rice at just P20 per kilo — a major relief for families struggling with food costs. At the same time, it increases local farmers’ income through improved palay buying prices.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the combined rice and cash aid gives families a “double assurance” that they can put food on the table while still tending to urgent expenses during tough economic times.