Baguio city: Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the PHP56 million allocation to Baguio City under the 2026 Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance (LGSF-FA), which will be used for rice subsidies for qualified families. "Rest assured walang e-epal dito at magagamit ng maayos ang pondo (rest assured there will be nobody who will take the limelight and that the funds will be properly utilized)," Magalong said in a media interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, the assistance will go directly to the people who truly need it, and the direct release of funds to LGUs will make implementation more transparent, efficient and equitable. The city government was listed as a beneficiary of the 2026 LGSF-FA under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program. A letter signed by President Marcos was transmitted to the city on Feb. 23, affirming the grant intended to provide rice subsidies.

Baguio's PHP56 million allocation is part of the nearly PHP58 billion fund nationwide, which will be downloaded directly to LGUs in a digitized manner to ensure faster implementation.