Monday, July 28, 2008 Tomas wants more rice recipients
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has instructed urban poor organizations he tasked to distribute government-subsidized rice to “adopt” non-members whom they believe are also indigents.
This way, not just urban poor groups’ members are able to buy cheap rice after the City was allowed to distribute National Food Authority (NFA) rice.
The mayor tasked the urban poor to be the ones to sell rice to prevent overlapping of functions and ensure that those who get the rice are really the poor.
“The non-members, you adopt them labi na nga dili sila makakuha og bugas (since they have no access to NFA rice),” the mayor said during a gathering last Saturday.
He said he recently met with President Gloria Arroyo and Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap and was promised that the urban poor will be prioritized.
“Imbis adto sa NFA regional distributors, mo-agi sa kapunongan. Mas democratic kay kung ang presidente mo-abuso, ilisan ra ninyo (Instead of going to NFA regional distributors, it will go to the urban poor groups. If the group’s president abuses his authority, you could replace him),” the mayor said.
He earlier said barangay officials and City Hall employees will be the ones to distribute the rice, but changed his mind and picked the urban poor organizations.
He wanted the urban poor sector to do it to avoid the situation where barangay officials prioritize their supporters.
Also, the mayor sought the urban poor’s help in guarding their communities against dengue, especially since it is already the rainy season.
He said the City could not afford to have a repeat of last year, when 51 died because of dengue fever.
He especially pointed out that dengue cases for the past six months have more than doubled compared to incidents in the same period last year.
Early detection
The mayor emphasized the need for people to know the symptoms of dengue for early detection, when the chances of survival are greater.
He said that whenever there is mosquito in the home, the breeding place is always near, like flower vases, refrigerators, water dispensers and plate racks.
He encouraged residents to report to City Hall the presence of used tires or neighbors who fail to dispose of them as they are among the common breeding sites of
mosquitoes.
The mayor likewise suggested the use of used oil, a little of amount of which would be enough to prevent mosquito larvae from developing in stagnant water. (RHM)
