113 Tindahan Natin outlets now established in WV
A total of 113 Tindahan Natin outlets are now established in Western Visayas.
Tindahan Natin, a program that aims to access the ultra poor to cheaper rice and noodles, is jointly implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA).
"The DSWD Field Office VI has now hired more Project Development Officers for the establishment of more Tindahan Natin outlets in Region VI. We are hoping to put up more outlets," said DSWD OIC Regional Director Teresita S. Rosales during the Tindahan Natin Project Inter-Agency Meeting on November 30, 2006 at the Emilion Function Center in General Luna Street, Iloilo City. NFA Regional Director Javier Lozada, Provincial Managers of NFA in the region, Regional Project Development Officer Mary Ann Masculino and other Project Development Officers attended the activity.
Of the 113 outlets, 56 are established in Iloilo Province, 22 in Capiz Province, 18 in Negros Occidental, 10 in Aklan Province and seven in Antique.
A total of 68 are funded by DSWD through a loan assistance. A P20,000 loan was granted to them to start their operations. On the other hand, 45 outlets are self-funded.
"We are again calling the people to support the Tindahan Natin outlets. We can attest that the NFA rice has no odor. It can even be mistaken as commercial rice," said Lozada.
The DSWD, with the help of the NFA, hopes to establish 700 more Tindahan Natin outlets in the next few months.
During the Inter-Agency meeting, the NFA and DSWD also ironed out issues in the implementation of the project.
The DSWD and NFA are also calling Local Government Units (LGUs) to support the implementation of Tindahan Natin in their respective localities. The help of LGUs is of great importance in the implementation particularly in hauling rice and goods down to far-flung areas.
(dswd6/mcastillo)