CEBU CITY – After opposing the controversial P20-per-kilo rice program during the campaign period, Cebu governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro has changed tune and is now open to supporting the initiative.
PAMELA Baricuatro takes her oath as the newly elected governor of Cebu province. (FB)
Baricuatro said she will support the program and depending on the budget, will expand it by making it more accessible to Cebuanos.
“I want everyone to have access to the P20-per-kilo rice. It should not be selective,” Baricuatro told reporters after her oathtaking on Thursday, May 22.
Baricuatro said food security is one of her administration’s priorities. The philanthropist is set to take over the capitol after scoring a massive upset against Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in the recent midterm elections.
Spearheaded by no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the program was launched in Cebu last May 12. It was suspended for the midterm elections but has since resumed.
The National Food Authority (NFA) announced the arrival of over 60,000 sacks of rice in Cebu. The fresh supply came from various regions.
On Friday, May 23, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson inspected the newly delivered rice supply at the NFA warehouse here.
“I am here to ensure that the quality is as reported by the source region,” Lacson said.
Lacson said that stringent quality control, including cooking tests and fumigation, will be conducted before distribution.
He said rice varies in grain size and color but assured that all safety standards are met.
“Regular activity ang fumigation just to make sure patay ang insekto,” he said.
(Fumigation is regular to make sure that there are no insects)
As of May 24, Central Visayas has received a total of 68,600 sacks of rice with several towns in Cebu already making withdrawals, including Pinamungajan (200 sacks), Medellin (79), Catmon (130), Tabogon (325), Talisay City (400), and San Fernando (100).