ROXAS City – The rice program for indigent residents of this city was halted after the National Food Authority (NFA) stopped supplying rice.
The city government originally sourced rice from the NFA for their “Bugas Para sa taga-Roxas Food Security Program”.
It started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for 32,000 affected families.
However, last week, the city was informed that the agency would stop releasing rice for Roxas City and other local government units except for calamity response.
The last rice distribution was on Jan. 20.
In a press conference held Tuesday, Mayor Ronnie Dadivas said this will be a big challenge to the city government.
However, he resolved to continue the rice program, citing its importance to every family in crisis due to the recent flooding, inflation, red tide, and closed fishing season from November 2022 to March 2023.
“Indi ko gusto magkabalaka ang mga pumoluyo sang syudad sang Roxas. Gusto ko padayunon ini nga programa kay kabalo kami daku ini nga bulig ilabi na gid sa mga pigado naton nga mga utod sa aton syudad,” he said.
Upon consultations, one of the solutions eyed by the city government is to source rice from a private supplier and would conduct a bidding process for interested bidders./PN
