CEBU TO REVIVE RICE SUBSIDY ‘FOR POOREST OF THE POOR’
CEBU CITY — The Cebu provincial government’s subsidized rice program for the “poorest of the poor” is set to make a comeback, aiming to make rice both affordable and accessible.
This revival comes after officials from the National Food Authority in Central Visayas (NFA 7) committed to providing an initial delivery of 5,000 bags of rice for the program.
With this, the suspended Sugbo Merkadong Barato (SMB) program, which used to sell P20 per kilo rice, will resume to operate in towns and cities under the provincial government.
NFA 7’s Officer In Charge Director Ovelito Baritua said this commitment during a meeting with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and town and city mayors on May 23 at the Capitol Social Hall.
Baritua said that the agency is prepared to provide additional rice supplies as necessary.
The Provincial Capitol said that the relaunch is seen as a measure to address food security and stabilize rice prices in the province.
It can be remembered that following Garcia’s announcement in October last year that they will sell rice at P20 per kilo, she then launched it the following month.
During the implementation of the program, eligible households with a QR-coded ID card can purchase rice up to a maximum of five kilos per week, at the SMB venue in their respective towns and cities.
However, shortly after the program started, it was temporarily suspended due to a limited supply of NFA rice, as well as to correct and revalidate the available list of eligible buyers at that time.
This time, the Capitol said that buyers will be thoroughly screened and approved by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that only deserving individuals can buy the rice.
Under the revamped SMB program, NFA rice will now be sold at a higher P29 per kilo rice to beneficiaries.
The new price is P9 higher than the initial price but aligns with the price of rice sold under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Kadiwa program.
The Capitol added that the new set price is still lower than the current market price, which ranges between P50 to P60 per kilo.
However, the target date for the relaunch of the program is yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, NFA acting administrator Larry del Rosario Lacson had earlier pledged the agency’s continuous support for other programs, including the Bugasan sa Kababayen-an sa Barangay (Rice for Women in Barangay) and the provincewide daily Sugbo School Feeding Program.
Garcia expressed her gratitude for NFA’s support, underscoring the vital role these programs play in alleviating hunger and aiding local communities.
She highlighted the importance of the Capitol’s collaboration with the NFA in ensuring the success of initiatives aimed at providing food security and affordable rice to Cebuanos.
Garcia added that the partnership between the Provincial Government and the NFA reflects a broader commitment to tackling food security issues and supporting the welfare of Cebu’s residents.