Malacañang on Monday placed the blame on a private supplier for distributing underweight sacks of rice during a government aid event last week in Mandaluyong City.

Some beneficiaries of the 10 July distribution, which was led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program, reported receiving sacks containing only eight kilograms of rice instead of the promised 10 kilograms.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said approximately 29,500 sacks were distributed at the event, with an estimated 50 sacks later discovered to be short of the weight requirement.

“The supplier acknowledged the mistake and apologized to the Mandaluyong local government,” Castro said.

According to Castro, the supplier has committed to providing an additional 10 kilograms of rice to each of the affected families without reclaiming the original eight-kilogram sacks.

Following the discrepancy, the Mandaluyong City government blacklisted the contractor from future government bidding and launched an investigation into the incident.

The relief distribution, funded through the Local Government Support Fund, targeted 3,100 vulnerable residents, including senior citizens, public utility drivers and children with disabilities across the city’s 27 neighborhoods.