Tagbilaran to provide free transparent backpacks

to 18,532 students as an add’l security measure

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—The City Government of Tagbilaran will provide free transparent backpacks to all 18,532 public elementary and high school students in the city as an additional measure for student security.

Mayor Jane Yap announced the initiative during a joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) on August 28.

“Isip usa ka inahan, kung safety sa atong mga anak ang hisgutan, action agad gyud ta (As a mother, when it comes to our children's safety, we take immediate action),” Yap said.

The program was launched in response to recent concerns and incidents of violence in schools, prompting the city government to strengthen measures ensuring the safety of the children.

The transparent backpacks will allow school personnel to easily inspect the contents of the bags as part of public school security protocols.

Safety is not the program's sole objective, as the bags will be manufactured by TESDA-trained livelihood graduates through the Tagbilaran Livelihood Center.

This initiative will help livelihood beneficiaries by providing employment and additional income while simultaneously offering enhanced protection for public school students.

“Instead nga mopalit lang ta og ready-made bags, atong kaugalingong mga Tagbilaranon ang atong suportahan (Instead of just buying ready-made bags, let us support our fellow Tagbilaranons),” Yap said.

“This initiative is protecting our children while creating opportunities for our people,” the mayor added. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

Following recent school safety concerns and incidents of violence, the Tagbilaran City Government is taking another proactive step by providing free transparent bags to all 18,532 public elementary and high school students in the city. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

10-kilos BBM rice helps 

low-income families get by

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—The 10-kilogram sack of free or subsidized government rice helps low-income families in Bohol get by, by securing several days of meals and freeing up scarce cash for other basic needs like utilities, schooling, and medicine.

“Pasalamat ko nga naapil me aning programa nga libreng bugas kay nakatabang sa among kunsumo labi na nga wala me tarong nga agi sa panagat. Balig usa ka semana pod ni namong kunsomo,” said Florencia Josoy, 60, of Purok 5 Salvador Cortes.

(I am grateful that we were included in this free rice program, as it has helped with our food supply—especially since our fishing trips haven't been very productive lately. This is enough to last us about a week).

With 4 family members, Josoy said the 10 kilos free rice is more than enough for them to get by.

For 56 year old tricycle driver Lito Tradio of Purok 7, Poblacion Buenavista, the 10 kilos rice his family received is already a big help especially in this trying time.

“Daku kaayo og tabang ang maong ayuda nga bugas ilabi na ning panahon sa kalisod. Ang among budget nga para unta sa bugas adto nga semana, nagamit namo pangbayad sa uban namong mga bayronon ug sa uban pang panginahanglan,” Tradio said.

(The rice assistance is a big help, especially during these difficult times. We were able to use the money originally budgeted for rice that week to pay for other bills and meet other needs).

Josoy and Tradio were among the 86,329 beneficiary who received the second tranche of 10 kilos of rice each under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Local Government Support Fund (BBM-LGSF) Rice Distribution Program.

The Provincial Government of Bohol began distributing the 10 kilograms of rice per beneficiary to indigent families on July 14.

From July 14 to August 19, a total of 86,329 beneficiaries from marginalized and vulnerable sectors in local government units (LGUs) in Bohol received the second tranche of rice assistance.

The program is funded through the national government’s Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FA to LGUs), with a total allocation of P196 million.

The provincial government allocated a P11-million counterpart fund, while participating LGUs provided additional support for families not on the initial beneficiary list. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

A total of 2,535 beneficiaries from marginalized and vulnerable sectors in the municipality of Buenavista received the second tranche of rice assistance on August 11, 2026. (Provincial Government of Bohol photo)