AS THE Covid-19 threat looms over the country, local government units (LGUs) in Cebu are bracing for tougher times ahead, especially for the marginalized sector.
The Cebu City Government will distribute 100,000 sacks of rice for the families of “no work, no pay” workers.
Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will meet with the city’s 80 barangay captains and the Mayor’s Information and Liaison Officers to discuss the mechanics for the distribution of the relief goods.
City Administrator Floro Casas Jr. said the rice will be ready within the week since they already found a supplier.
“This is to alleviate, to lessen the burden of the public,” said Labella.
The Cebu City Council is also set to approve a P1 billion budget for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency aid to affected residents.
Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, majority floor leader, said the money will come from proceeds of the sale of South Road Properties (SRP) lots amounting to about P10 billion in the bank.
It will be deposited to the City’s quick response fund, Garcia said.
Relief goods
In Mandaue City, officials allocated P12 million for the emergency purchase of food supplies for the City Social Welfare and Services.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said they have prepared packs of rice and canned goods in case the Covid-19 situation worsens.
Cortes also urged the city’s 27 barangays to purchase rice, prime commodities and medicines for distribution to their constituents.
Mandaue City Association of Barangay Councils president Ernie Manatad of Barangay Subangdaku told SunStar Cebu that he bought P700,000 worth of rice, 75 boxes of canned goods and noodles as well as protective gear for Subangdaku’s Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT).
Manatad said they are giving out food support to persons under monitoring (PUMs) who are indigents as well as to BHERT members attending to the PUMs in their barangay.
Canduman Barangay Captain Dante Borbajo also purchased 124 sacks of rice, 60 boxes of canned goods, 100 boxes of noodles, thermal guns, gloves, and masks, all amounting to P521,000.
In Tabok, Barangay Captain Dario Tarriman allocated P67,000 for food supplies, P30,000 for protective equipment, P20,000 for vitamins and P8,000 for miscellaneous expenses.
In Casuntingan, Barangay Captain Oscar Jayme del Castillo purchased 136 sacks of rice, canned goods, noodles, 7,500 bottles of purified water, a thermal scanner, disinfectants, masks and gloves all amounting to P471,000.
Abundant
Meanwhile, Grains Retailers Confederation (Grecon) Cebu president Teresita “Nene” Alegado assured an abundant supply of rice since private suppliers no longer had an importation quota.
Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, allows any supplier willing to pay the tariff to import rice.
Alegado said the current supply of rice is more than double what it was from the same period last year.
Alegado added that rice in Cebu is imported from Vietnam and Thailand.
The National Food Authority (NFA) Central Visayas currently has a buffer stock of 139,939 sacks of rice for the region.
NFA 7 Regional Director Rocky Valdez said the region’s consumption is 36,420 sacks per day.
Authorized retailers are allowed to purchase only 15 to 30 sacks of NFA rice per week. NFA rice is priced at P27 per kilo.
The Department of Trade and Industry has imposed a price freeze for all basic goods, stating that violators will face fines from P5,000 to P1 million, and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years. (JJL, KFD, PR )