Thursday, May 15, 2008 Town, NFA to monitor rice distribution in Candaba
THE Candaba Municipal Government and the National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office in Pampanga have agreed to jointly monitor the distribution of rice in the town to avoid any form of “shortage.”
Last Wednesday, Mayor Jerry Pelayo and NFA provincial manager Elvira Obaña reached an agreement in a dialogue between the two officials.
The mayor confirmed from the NFA official the volume of rice allotted in every municipality, especially in Candaba.
“There are allotted 120 cavans of rice per week and that makes a total of 480 cavans per month,” Obaña answered.
The dialogue was held after the Municipal Government received reports that there is an evident shortage in terms of rice given by the government since, according Pelayo, “there are those who were not given their share.”
Pelayo and Obaña agreed to create a technical monitoring group that will monitor rice distribution in the town.
The monitoring group, according to Pelayo, will be composed of representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), NFA, local government unit, barangay leaders, non-government organizations, among others.
The DSWD will be tasked to determine who will benefit from the government-subsidized rice, especially the so-called “poorest of the poor.”
The mayor also said that such measure will provide for check and balance as well as transparency in rice distribution. (RCG)
