ILOILO CITY, July 28 -- Farmers and vulnerable sectors in Iloilo are set to benefit from government programs highlighted in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), including rice assistance and aid for farmers affected by calamities.

Iloilo Provincial Agriculturist Officer-in-Charge Geron Magbanua said Tuesday that the province is preparing to implement its rice support program funded through the Local Government Support Fund - Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU).

"We have received PHP299 million from the national government intended to procure rice directly from farmers through the Sagip Saka Act. We allocated each municipality an estimated PHP5 million to PHP6 million to augm...