Mandaluyong blacklists supplier of underweight rice sacks

MANILA, Philippines — The supplier behind the national government’s free rice distribution program in Mandaluyong City has admitted that some sacks contained less than the supposed 10 kilos beneficiaries were supposed to receive, according to Malacañang. The local government has blacklisted the company, which it did not disclose, and launched an investigation into the matter. Palace press officer Claire Castro on Monday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not condone any shortchanging of beneficiaries under the national government’s assistance programs. “This is certainly not something the President would want. Whatever is supposed to be given to the people should be given in full,” she added. The issue surfaced after some beneficiaries of the rice distribution program complained that sacks labeled as containing 10 kilos were short by 2 kilos, weighing only 8 kilos. According to information provided to Malacañang, around 29,500 rice sacks, each weighing 10 kilograms, were distributed. However, an estimated 50 sacks were found to be underweight. The supplier has acknowledged the error and apologized to the Mandaluyong local government, Castro said. She added the supplier committed to providing beneficiaries who received the 8-kilo rice sacks with an additional full 10-kilogram sack of rice, and the original underweight sacks of rice would not be retrieved. “The local government has also decided to blacklist the supplier and has begun an investigation into the incident,” Castro said. Newly appointed Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. joined First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in distributing free rice to 3,100 beneficiaries in Mandaluyong on July 10. The rice assistance, under the “Mula sa Puso, Para sa Pamilya” initiative is being carried out nationwide and is part of the Office of the President’s continuing assistance program for vulnerable sectors. It is funded through President Marcos’ “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). The LGSF is a financial program that assists local government units in various programs and services. The 2026 national budget has the largest LGSF allocation in history at P57.872 billion. The item includes the Financial Assistance to LGUs (FALGU) amounting to P37.492 billion, of which half of is allotted for the nationwide rice distribution program for identified families to receive 10 kilograms of rice for six months every year.