The provincial government of Cebu will allocate P100 million to fund the cheap market project that would sell National Food Authority (NFA) rice at PHP20 per kilo and commercial rice at an affordable price. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Thursday said the Sugbo Merkadong Barato (SMB) would be selling NFA and commercial rice with prices similar to those sold at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo pop- up stores to benefit indigent consumers five times a week. Garcia said she has secured the commitment of the local government units (LGU) in the province to bring the benefits down to their constituencies who are in need of assistance. Katherine Bethune, head of the Cebu capitol public information office, said that capitol would release PHP100 million to purchase rice from the NFA and distribute it to the LGUs. ‘The LGUs will be the one to sell the PHP20 per kilo of rice to the poorest of the poor,’ Bethune told the Philippine News Agency. The provincial government is expected to absorb at least 10 percent losses of the allocated amount since it would be selling rice at a loss if only to give the Cebuanos more spending capacity during this time of high inflation. ‘Those who do not like NFA rice, Cebuanos can also buy commercial rice cheaper than what is sold in the market. Capitol gihapon ang mo pohunan (will still shoulder the capital),’ Bethune added. Apart from rice, consumers could also buy fresh harvests at affordable prices. Bethune said the capitol is set to launch the SMB project on Nov. 28.

Source: Philippines News Agency