Councilor Reynaldo Advincula suggested using churches of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese as distribution centers of rice coming from the National Food Authority (NFA).
Advincula's suggestion came from reports that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is considering the facilities of all churches for distribution of NFA rice to the poor.
The councilor noted that the Church has remained as the only credible institution in the country today.
"Ang Simbahan ra niining panahona ang masaligan sa pag-distribute sa bugas ug sigurado nga makaabot sa katawhan nga tinuod nga nanginahanglan (The Church can be relied upon to distribute the rice to the people in need)," Advincula said.
But Advincula's idea was quickly opposed by fellow councilors.
"Nganong ihatag man nato sa Simbahan ang pag-distribute sa NFA rice? Nagpakita lang nga kita mismo dili masaligan sa tawo (Why should we give the rice to the Church for distribution. It will show that we ourselves could not be trusted by our people," Councilor Roger Abaday said.
Abaday added that allowing the Church to distribute rice is a probable violation of the Constitution separating the powers of the Church and state.
"What if I'm not a Catholic? Where should I go?" another councilor said, adding that not all of the city's 700,000 residents are Catholics.
The councilors deferred their decision until their next session next week.
Councilor Ramon Tabor said the distribution of rice would be a major problem if there indeed would be a shortage in the coming lean months between July and September.
Tabor said unscrupulous rice traders in Cagayan de Oro City are now hoarding the grains, resulting to a shortage.
Councilor Ian Acenas, chair of the committee on agriculture, said his committee had conducted discreet investigations and found that there was indeed "a collusion" between corrupt NFA employees and traders who diverts the grains, re-bagged them, and sell at commercial prices.
