Mayor Bayron: City government will buy produce directly from farmers, fishermen

Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron said that the City Government of Puerto Princesa will buy produce directly from farmers and fishermen as part of its food assistance to city residents while they are staying in their respective homes during the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to coronavirus disease (Covid) 19.

He said that this will support the local farmers and fishermen, while the city residents are provided with nutritious food.

“Bibili tayo ng mga produktong direkta mula sa mga magsasaka at mangigisda para e-distribute sa mga barangay na nangangailangan,” Mayor Bayron said. “Patuloy nating tutulungan ang mga nangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng bigas at food assistance,” he further said.

In the social media page of the City Mayor’s Office, it posted their ongoing activities which include the distribution of fresh vegetable products to the different barangays. Aside the fresh vegetable and fishery products, they city government also intends to buy rice and canned goods.

Mayor Bayron explained that for the city government to distribute food assistance to its constituents, they will procure some 90,000 sacks of rice preferably from the National Food Authority (NFA) or from commercial rice suppliers. They will also procure volume of canned goods.

“Ang preference natin ay NFA rice ngunit kung hindi kaya ng NFA na mag-supply sa atin ng 90,000 sacks ay mapipilitan tayong bumili ng commercial rice. Maghahanap din tayo ng mabibiling bastanteng volume ng canned goods o de lata para maisama sa rice assistance.’’

Last month, the city government disbursed the amount of P94.5 million as P1,500 financial assistance intended for approximately 63,000 families in the city’s 66 barangays. They also distributed some 4,700 sacks of rice or one sack each for 4,700 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the city.

While not all households/families are not in the city government list, Mayor Bayron instructed the punong barangays to submit their validated list so that funds for their P1,500 financial assistances will be released for them.

“Inutusan natin ang mga barangay na mag-submit ng karagdagang list ng families na alam nila na dapat tumanggap ng aid sa City. Ang list na ito ay i-validate ng CSWD,” Mayor Bayron explained.