QC authorizes rice credit agreement during calamities

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council has ratified the agreement of the local government with the National Food Authority (NFA) that will allow the purchase on credit of rice that will be used for relief operations.

The measure, authored by second district Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, said Mayor Herbert Bautista is authorized to enter transactions for the city upon legislative approval, as per the local government code.

He said the local council, under the same law, may adopt measures to protect residents from the ill-effects of man-made or natural disasters and provide relief to victims.

The memorandum of agreement was signed by Bautista and NFA provincial manager Lemuel Pagayunan on June 25 last year to allow the purchase of rice on credit for relief operations.

“In order to provide immediate assistance to their constituents, the local government unit has requested the NFA to allow them to purchase rice on credit for its relief operations whenever a state of calamity is declared,” read the memorandum.

“The NFA, cognizant to the need of the people in times of emergency or calamity, has agreed to the request of the local government unit,” it added.

The agreement will allow the city to obtain rice on credit that will be distributed as relief to those affected by a calamity. It stressed that the rice may not be used for any other purpose.