Cheaper Rice for Cebu Residents Mulled at P25 Per Kilo

Residents in Cebu may soon be able to purchase cheaper rice at P25 per kilo at government centers through pop-up stores across the Province’s towns and cities.

The Cebu Provincial Government will initially allocate at least P100 million for the purchase of 10,000 sacks of “NFA Rice” which they will sell to its constituents daily.

Priority, however, will be marginalized families. They will be limited to 5 kilos per week, per family until more rice supplies can be provided by the NFA.

The towns and cities will be the ones who will identify the location of the “Tindahan sa Kapitolyo” pop-up market accessible to common residents.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said that QR-coded cards will be issued to marginalized families who will be able to buy cheaper rice in the pop-up market.

The listing of families will be certified by the social welfare offices in the respective towns and cities. The cards will control the number of kilos of rice that can be purchased per family.

The allocation of an initial 10,000 sacks of NFA rice will be distributed “equitably” to the 50 LGUs of Cebu Province based on population.

“I am doing this,” according to Garica, “So that we can ease the hardships of our fellow Cebuanos.”

The pop-up markets for NFA rice are targeted to be opened by this week.

The Governor also plans to expand the program to other families who are not considered as poorest of the poor.

Garcia said that she is also in talks with private rice distributors for the purchase of sacks of rice which can be purchased by other residents who have the capacity to buy “commercial rice” varieties.

She said that Capitol will also purchase the “commercial rice” and sell it at the pop-up stores at a target price of P33 per kilo. She is also planning to allocate P100 million for this.

Garcia said that the Capitol will be losing 10 percent of the P100 million (or about 10 million) which will be construed as a form of financial assistance to its residents but not in the form of an “ayuda.”

Governor Garcia said that this is the best solution to combat the rising prices instead of indulging “mendicant mentality”.

No specific dates yet as to when the commercial varieties will be sold in the “tindahan sa kapitolyo.” (ZAG)