Two city programs drew questions from Bislig's Sangguniang Panlungsod at its 66th regular session on October 20, 2026. One is a P5-million rice subsidy. The other is a firetruck the city recently acquired.

The P5-million rice subsidy

Resolution No. 2026-830, authored by Councilor Pedrito R. Sulapas, asks the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), through Mr. Grover S. Viduya, to appear before the council and "shed light" on the Rice Subsidy Program amounting to P5,000,000, "particularly on the details of its implementation."

The resolution does not accuse anyone of wrongdoing. It says a program of that size "requires proper implementation, transparency, and accountability to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the appropriate assistance."

It lists what the council wants the CSWDO to explain:

  • the program's guidelines
  • the eligibility criteria
  • how beneficiaries are selected
  • the distribution process
  • how the funds have been used

The council said it wants clarification "to ensure that the allocated funds are utilized in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations." The resolution does not say when the program started, how many households it covers, or how much rice each beneficiary receives. Those are among the details the CSWDO is expected to present.

The new firetruck

At the same session, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-837, titled "Resolution calling for a legislative inquiry on the newly-acquired firetruck of the City Government of Bislig, in aid of legislation."

Only the title had been posted on the city website as of October 30, 2026, without the full text. That means the specific concerns behind the inquiry, the cost of the truck, and the date of its acquisition are not yet public. Bislig Today will report on the inquiry once the resolution text or the hearing results are available.

The firetruck question comes after a year in which fire protection has been a recurring topic in the council. After back-to-back fires in Tabon and Mangagoy, councilors asked for a fire sub-station in Tabon and more fire hydrants. In August, the council also asked the CSWDO to give mental health first aid to victims of the recent fires in the city.

What 'in aid of legislation' means

A legislative inquiry "in aid of legislation" is the standard way a local council looks into how a program or purchase was handled. The council's committees can invite the officials involved, ask for documents, and hear explanations. The stated purpose is to find out whether a new ordinance, a change in policy, or a budget adjustment is needed.

Bislig's council has used the tool several times this year. In August, it called an inquiry into the one-day lockdown of the city slaughterhouse after pigs there tested positive for African swine fever.

Why it matters

Both items involve public money and services that residents depend on: food aid for households that need it, and the equipment the city relies on when a fire breaks out. Any findings or follow-up action from the two hearings would come through later council resolutions or ordinances, which the city posts on its website.

Residents who received, or were turned away from, the rice subsidy and have questions can contact the CSWDO at City Hall.

Both resolutions are listed on the City Government of Bislig's website under its 2026 resolutions.