Senate OKs measure converting cash subsidy to ‘actual rice’

MANILA, Philippines— The Senate unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that would allow the government to distribute actual rice, instead of cash, to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

Twenty one senators voted to approve Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 with no negative votes or abstentions.

The said resolution authorizes the use of the rice subsidy as provided for under the 4Ps budget this year.

Under the measure, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA), is mandated to buy palay from the local farmers in various provinces and “distribute rice subsidy in the form of actual rice, instead of cash assistance to the qualified beneficiaries.”

The measure specifically provides that the palay should be bought from local farmers from the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan , Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zamboanga del Sur and Iloilo.

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