The Negros Occidental provincial government will release additional rice subsidy to all 31 local government units (LGUs) in the province during the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which will last until April 30.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday the plan is to release an additional 400 bags of rice to each city and municipality. Each bag will have 50 kilos amounting to PHP1,250 per bag.

“(We) will continue to give assistance to the LGUs. We are now sourcing for rice supply,” the governor said in a press conference at the Capitol Social Hall here on Wednesday.

Lacson said he was hoping the National Food Authority (NFA) will have enough rice stocks to meet the supply needed by the provincial government.

This will be the third round of rice subsidy of the Capitol to the 12 component cities and 19 municipalities since the start of the ECQ on March 30.

Initially, the provincial government purchased PHP31 million worth of rice supply equivalent to 24,800 bags.

The stocks have been released to all 19 component cities and 19 municipalities, each receiving 800 bags.

Then on April 2, the provincial government also purchased P19.5 million worth of rice distributed to all 19 municipalities.

Earlier, NFA-Negros Occidental provincial manager Josephine Venus Dasal-Castillo said they have suspended the distribution of government rice to grains retailers to focus on supplying rice to the LGUs while the province is under ECQ.

NFA-Negros Occidental has requested 100,000 bags from the regional office in Iloilo City, of which some 50,000 bags have already been delivered to the LGUs. (PNA)