In support of drought-stricken farmers in North Cotabato province, around 165 sacks of rice donated by private sectors from Davao City arrived in Kidapawan City on April 2. The El Niño-affected farmers put up a barricade along the national highway of Kidapawan City to demand for rice subsidy, but the protest was violently dispersed on April 1. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — Drought-stricken farmers in North Cotabato were thankful for the 15,000 sacks of rice given by the Davao City government, but dismayed over the protocol of rice distribution, a spokesperson of a farmers’ group said on Wednesday, May 25.
In a phone interview, Jerry Alborme, spokesperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, questioned the procedure of rice distribution as he claimed that their group “did not receive” any rice donated by the city government of Davao.
On Monday, May 23, Alborme went to the Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), to follow up for the rice distribution. The CSSDO is the office tasked to handle the delivery of rice from Davao to North Cotabato.
But later he found out that it was the local government unit of North Cotabato which received the rice donations in behalf of the farmers. Alborme asserted that the donated rice should be coursed through to KMP in North Cotabato, stressing that only those farmers who joined the Kidapawan protest last month should be prioritized.
“The rice humanitarian aid would not have been made possible if not for the struggle of the farmers in North Cotabato who were victims of El Niño,” he added.
Luz Farañal of the CSSDO for emergency response, said the city mayor’s office has approved for the distribution of the 15,000 sacks of rice last Thursday, May 20.
“They already distributed 3,450 sacks of rice to Kidapawan City , 2700 to President Roxas, 750 to Municipality of Magpet and 1,650 sacks to the Municiaplity of Antipas over the weekend,” said Farañal as quoted saying in a news report.
The remaining 6,459 sacks of rice will be given to Magpet (3,300 sacks) and Arakan (3,150 sacks), she added.
KMP said that they received reports that in Antipas town, donated rice from Davao City were re-packed into five kilos of rice.
Alborme said they negotiated with the mayor of Antipas that each household should receive a sack of rice “especially those who sacrificed and joined the rally.”
He added that despite the rice donations, farmers in North Cotabato are still experiencing hunger since they still need 3-4 months in order to harvest their crops. (davaotoday.com)
