Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Teachers welcome NFA's response to concerns on 'poor-quality, inedible rice'
Philippines
National
Teachers welcome NFA's response to concerns on 'poor-quality, inedible rice'
Teachers welcome NFA's response to concerns on 'poor-quality, inedible rice'
Published Jun 23, 2023 12:09 pm
After getting reports from teachers in various regions on the “poor quality” of rice they have received from the government, a group arranged a dialogue with the National Food Authority (NFA) to address the issue.
(Photo from Unsplash)
“We handed over the reports and documentation received from teachers in almost all regions,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in Filipino. During the dialogue with the NFA, the group welcomed the commitment made by the NFA regarding the option for teachers to request a replacement for rice of poor quality or that is inedible. The rice provision to teachers was part of the one-time rice assistance (OTRA) program of the national government. Based on the reports from teachers who have received the rice assistance, ACT said that the rice given to them was not of “good quality.” In particular, the recipients noted that the rice they received had an odor, was not white, it was turning black or yellowish, was rocky, and have crushed grains. Aside from the overall quality of the rice, Quetua noted that many teachers in various divisions were yet to receive assistance even if the teachers already signed the acknowledgment receipt. During the dialogue, ACT noted that the NFA addressed the concerns raised by the teachers. “We are grateful that the NFA has been open to dialogue to discuss the teachers' grievances with this benefit,” Quetua said. For ACT, the meeting with the NFA was “successful” because the agency promised to replace the inedible rice received by the teachers and that the coordination with the union would continue. To avoid other concerns in the rice assistance, ACT reminded focal persons and teachers to check the quality and ask for it to be replaced if it is not of good quality. ACT also encouraged the divisions to cooperate with the local government units (LGUs) and uniformed personnel on the acquisition and return of rice. Meanwhile, ACT also raised that the school year will end by July 7 which prompted the NFA to expedite the release of rice assistance while teachers are in schools. The NFA, in response, vowed to intensify its efforts to complete distribution by the end of June. Given this, ACT strongly urged teacher-beneficiaries to report their concerns by completing the request form for rice replacement posted on its official page.
(Photo from Unsplash)
“We handed over the reports and documentation received from teachers in almost all regions,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in Filipino. During the dialogue with the NFA, the group welcomed the commitment made by the NFA regarding the option for teachers to request a replacement for rice of poor quality or that is inedible. The rice provision to teachers was part of the one-time rice assistance (OTRA) program of the national government. Based on the reports from teachers who have received the rice assistance, ACT said that the rice given to them was not of “good quality.” In particular, the recipients noted that the rice they received had an odor, was not white, it was turning black or yellowish, was rocky, and have crushed grains. Aside from the overall quality of the rice, Quetua noted that many teachers in various divisions were yet to receive assistance even if the teachers already signed the acknowledgment receipt. During the dialogue, ACT noted that the NFA addressed the concerns raised by the teachers. “We are grateful that the NFA has been open to dialogue to discuss the teachers' grievances with this benefit,” Quetua said. For ACT, the meeting with the NFA was “successful” because the agency promised to replace the inedible rice received by the teachers and that the coordination with the union would continue. To avoid other concerns in the rice assistance, ACT reminded focal persons and teachers to check the quality and ask for it to be replaced if it is not of good quality. ACT also encouraged the divisions to cooperate with the local government units (LGUs) and uniformed personnel on the acquisition and return of rice. Meanwhile, ACT also raised that the school year will end by July 7 which prompted the NFA to expedite the release of rice assistance while teachers are in schools. The NFA, in response, vowed to intensify its efforts to complete distribution by the end of June. Given this, ACT strongly urged teacher-beneficiaries to report their concerns by completing the request form for rice replacement posted on its official page.