NFA backs Gwen on purchase of 10,000 bags of rice

CEBU, Philippines – The National Food Authority is supporting the statement of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that the 10,000 bags of rice procured by Capitol are solely for distribution to victims of calamities and for other emergency purposes and not because of the upcoming barangay election.

Yesterday, during a meeting of the Provincial Development Council, NFA-7 Regional Director Edgar Bentulan said it was him who informed Garcia about the rice credit program for local government units, which would enable LGUs to avail of rice credit from NFA in the event of a disaster or calamity.

Bentulan said that once NFA and the different LGUs sign a formal memorandum of agreement, a province can avail of up to 5,000 bags while a city can avail of up to 2,000 bags. A municipality, meanwhile, can avail of up to 1,000 bags. The bags of rice can be claimed within 15 days.

Bentulan explained that the program is intended to assist restoration and rehabilitation efforts in an event of a disaster.

The PDC meeting was attended by 30 mayors while other LGUs were represented by its vice-mayors, councilors, planning officers and non-government organizations.

Vice-Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. reportedly suspects that the rice would be distributed to win support in the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elec-tions on October 25, something that Garcia calls as "cheap."

The resolution authorizing the governor to enter into and sign on behalf of the province of Cebu a MOA with the NFA to purchase on credit up to 10,000 bags of rice was approved by the Provincial Board, but Sanchez did not sign the same just yet.

"Ka-cheap sad nato uy…someone disastrously thought this will be used in barangay election," Garcia said.

She urged the board members to forward the resolution to her office even without the signature of the vice-governor.

Bentulan said earlier that 400,000 imported rice from Vietnam currently stored at the Bureau of Customs have been issued a certificate of turnover. - Gregg M. Rubio and Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (FREEMAN)