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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Warehouse in Mandaue City yields P1-M rotting NFA rice

Warehouse in Mandaue City yields P1-M rotting NFA rice

Published Aug 9, 2025 06:18 pm  |  Updated Aug 10, 2025 03:08 pm
CEBU CITY – Sacks of rice that could have fed thousands were left to rot in a warehouse in Mandaue City.
Authorities confirmed that the 397 sacks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice valued at over P1 million are already spoiled and unfit for human consumption.
BAGS of spoiled NFA rice stored in a warehouse in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City. (Mandaue Media Relations Office)
BAGS of spoiled NFA rice stored in a warehouse in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City. (Mandaue Media Relations Office)
Sacks of rice stored in a warehouse in Barangay Tawason were intended for distribution to low-income residents through the Capitol-run Sugbong Merkado (SMB) program.
These were stocked in the warehouse for more than a year.
Because of this, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has ordered a full review of the SMB to check its implementation and coordination with local government units.
“Sayang jud siya, sayang jud (It was a waste, it was really a waste),” said Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces.
Despite the incident, the program will not be suspended as needed reforms will be enforced to address logistical issues.
The Capitol has coordinated with the Department of Agriculture to determine the proper disposal of the spoiled rice and assess possible accountability.
Under the program, families listed in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s database could buy two kilos of rice per week for P20 per kilo using QR-coded SMB cards.
The Capitol partly subsidized the rice purchased from the NFA to keep the prices low.
Mandaue launched its SMB operations on Jan. 16 but was suspended ahead of the May 12 elections.
There were 1,079 sacks allocated to Mandaue under the program but only 700 were sold as of August 2025. The program has 4,137 qualified beneficiaries in Mandaue.
Logistical issues contributed to the low movement of stock. Some residents opted not to purchase the cheap rice as transport cost was higher than the two kilos of rice that they will be able to purchase.
Some beneficiaries live in remote areas who need to travel far to reach the designated distribution points.
According to the Cebu Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Mandaue has the biggest unpaid balance of P1,077,000 among 51 local government units (LGUs) in the province that joined the program.
On Saturday, Aug. 9, Mandaue Mayor Jonkie Ouano said the city government will verify if there was an existing contract between Mandaue and the Capitol under the program.
The city will only settle its financial obligations with the province after review of the contract if there’s any.
Mandaue Administrator Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. said plans to dispose of the rice and settle its unpaid balance with the province have been stalled due to the absence of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

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NFA NFA rice Mandaue City Spoiled rice
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