Cebu City will roll out subsidized rice distribution and social pension payouts this week, targeting vulnerable sectors across multiple barangays from March 30 to April 1.
The city government will distribute rice at P20 per kilo under its “Benteng Bigas” program while simultaneously releasing first-quarter social pensions for senior citizens to expand food access and financial aid.
Under Benteng Bigas, rice sourced from National Food Authority stocks and distributed through KADIWA centers will be made available to qualified beneficiaries, with a purchase cap of up to 20 kilos per beneficiary, subject to availability.
The rollout is split between the north and south districts, with designated schedules and venues to manage demand.
In the north district, distribution will be held at Plaza Sugbo. Beneficiaries from Barangays Sto. Niño, San Roque, and Tejero are scheduled on March 30; Tinago and Day-as on March 31; and Ermita and Parian on April 1.
For the south district, distribution will take place at the Cebu City Sports Institute in Sawang Calero starting 9 a.m.
Scheduled beneficiaries include residents from Pasil, Suba, and Sawang Calero on March 30; Duljo, Pahina San Nicolas, and San Nicolas Proper on March 31; and Mambaling and Basak San Nicolas on April 1.
Priority beneficiaries include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, indigenous households including Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members, farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers such as jeepney and tricycle drivers, minimum wage earners, and Department of Education personnel.
Distribution will follow standard government procedures, including beneficiary verification and coordination with national agencies to ensure proper allocation and orderly release of stocks.
Running alongside the rice rollout, the city will also release social pensions for senior citizens on March 31 through a clustered payout system covering 18 groupings across upland and urban barangays.
Among the identified clusters are Cluster 1 at the Adlaon Gymnasium, serving barangays Taptap, Adlaon, Sirao, Tagbao, and Tabunan with 321 beneficiaries, and Cluster 2 at the Babag Gymnasium, covering Bonbon, Babag, Malubog, Pung-ol Sibugay, and Buot with 297 beneficiaries. Cluster 9 at the Sawang Calero Gymnasium will include urban barangays such as Tejero, Tinago, Ermita, and Pasil with 383 beneficiaries.
Other major clusters include Cluster 13 at the Cogon Ramos Gymnasium, serving Lahug, Apas, Busay, and Kamagayan with 312 beneficiaries, and Cluster 15 in Basak Pardo, covering Basak San Nicolas, Basak Pardo, Quiot, and Kinasang-an with 236 beneficiaries.
Additional payout sites have been designated in barangays including Sudlon, Agsungot, Paril, Pulangbato, Banilad, Tisa, Sambag, Kalunasan, San Nicolas, Carreta, Kasambagan, Cogon Pardo, and Duljo Fatima.
Beneficiaries are advised to proceed only to their assigned venues and bring required identification documents for verification to ensure a smooth payout process. (LLP)
