Capitol to sell goods at cheap prices, willing to absorb losses

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government will partly subsidize the operation of Bagsakan Centers and the Tindahan sa Kapitolyo to be established in 20 its municipalities.

This was announced by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during a press conference last Friday.

“Gani, atong ning gilantaw nga kaning atong ibaligya, i-subsidize gyud ni sa Capitol nga paubsan pa gyud. Medyo mo-absorb na lang ta sa alkansi isip tabang sa atong mga kaigsuonan na naglisod karon,” she said.

A subsidy of up to 10 percent is being eyed for each item sold in the government markets so indigents and displaced workers will be able to maximize the Social Amelioration Fund of P6,000 entitled to them by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Kining Social Amelioration Fund nga madawat sa kada pamilya, kung ma-abli ni nato… tungod kay mugbo ang presyo dinhi, mas daghan ang mapalit. Medyo mas mainat ang value sa ilang mas madawat na 6,000,” Garcia said.

The Bagsakan Centers and the Tindahan sa Kapitolyo are the Capitol’s initiatives to give indigents, who may not be able to afford the retail prices in supermarkets and grocery stores, access to basic goods and commodities.

To deflect the tendency to hoard goods, a strict rationing will also be maintained in these markets.

“Duna man gud ni rasyon, di man ka makapalit og bisan pila,” Garcia said.

Under this system, families, per week, may be able to purchase only 28 packs of noodles, 14 cans of sardines, three packs of milk, two 200ML pouch of edible oil, two 250g of sugar ang iodized salt, two bars of detergent soap, two bottles of 1mL bleach, and two bottles of alcohol from the Bagsakan Centers.

This was devised under the assumption that each family has six members.

Each household will be assigned an identification (ID) number to be carried by a designated member to the government markets. The ID will then be presented to the municipal social worker to counter check whether or not they have already purchased their ration for the week.

Garcia said 20 municipalities that will pilot the Bagsakan Centers were chosen from their lack of access to a supermarket.

Among these are Alcoy, Boljoon, Santander, Samboan, Aloguinsan, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Sta Fe, Madridejos, Borbon, Aogod, Catmon, Poro, Tudela, Pilar, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Alcantara and Ronda.

Of those Ronda, Sta Fe, Boljoon and Alegria will be ready tomorrow, April 6.

Poro will also open its Bagsakan Center on April 7.

The rest of the identified municipalities will have their Bagsakan Centers open before Holy Thursday, April 9.  JMD (FREEMAN)