Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Rice shortage in Cebu City, peace & order problem in Bridge Cities
PRESIDENT Arroyo ordered yesterday the immediate transport of government-subsidized rice to Cebu City’s mountain barangays after Mayor Tomas Osmeña complained that urban poor families there have access only to rice that cost P40 a kilo.
Also, to help reduce rice consumption among the Filipinos and make them less exclusively dependent on rice, the President said she will make Cebu Province’s rice substitution program a general policy so it can be replicated in other parts of the country.
The President ate for dinner rice mixed with sweet potato, which Gov. Gwen Garcia is promoting in the towns and cities of Cebu to reduce rice consumption and increase its nutritive value.
Arroyo also instructed the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to increase police visibility in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to deter crimes.
During a local security meeting last night, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu City, 6th district) brought to the President’s attention the increasing incidence of theft and robbery in the two cities.
“The peace and order problem has been discussed. And even if peace and order in the region is under control, insurgency has dwindled, the President wants an increase in police visibility, especially in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu,” Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) told Sun.Star Cebu.
Arroyo met with the governors and some legislators from Central Visayas, regional directors of national agencies including the police and military at the Malacañang sa Sugbo last night before joining members of the local and national media for an informal dinner.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he complained to the President about the problem on the mountain barangay’s lack of access to government-subsidized rice.
“I complained why the price of rice in the mountain barangays is P40 and it’s good I brought it up because she spent half an hour discussing the problem. At least NFA got the signal already,” Osmeña told reporters.
“She told NFA officials that she wants to see vehicles going up there before she leaves tomorrow,” he continued.
The President is scheduled to end his Cebu visit this morning. (LCR)
