More 'Bigasan sa Parokya' outlets to open
Roxas City -- Two more "Bigasan sa Parokya" outlets will open this month to serve as authorized government rice retailers to more parishioners for government-priced rice at P18.50 per koligram.
The establishment of additional "Bigasan sa Parokya" at Barangays Loctugan and Bolo resulted in a total of seven church-based rice retailers. The National Food Authority (NFA) -- Capiz Provincial Office accreditation record revealed that other "Bigasan sa Parokya" outlets in the province are at Mt. Carmel, San Sebastian, Medalla Milagrosa, Saint Vincent Ferrer and Seniora del Carmen parishes.
"The province has also 59 operational Tindahan Natin outlets and 42 Bigasang Bayan established in all municipalities," said NFA Provincial Economist Samuel Sarmiento.
Related to this, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) recently has turned over to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a check worth P1.25-million for the purchase and construction of an additional 50 Tindahan Natin convenience stores to be set up in various parts of the country. The FFCCCII is the country's biggest organization of businessmen of Chinese heritage
The new donation to the Tindahan program brings to 175 the number of stores donated by the organization to the Arroyo administration since last year at a total cost of P3.125 million.
The Tindahan Natin chain of convenience stores is a project of the government being implemented by the NFA and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide easy access by residents of depressed areas to low-cost basic commodities.
(PIA/A.Lumaque)