Issue over 397 unsold rice under SMB program settled

Local

THE fate of 397 unsold sacks of rice under the Sugbo Mercadong Barato (SMB) program in Mandaue City has finally been resolved.

This as the Cebu Provincial Government agreed to classify the stocks as financial assistance to the city.

Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano said the city is pleased with the support from Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

The agreement, finalized during a meeting last September 15, allows Mandaue to dispose of the rice, which has been declared unfit for human consumption, to institutions such as Cebu Doctors’ University for research purposes.

All recipients are required to submit formal letters and signed waivers to ensure the rice is not used for human consumption.

While the city will no longer pay for the 397 unsold sacks, it still needs to settle around P300,000 for rice that was already sold under the program. Ouano emphasized that the city is ready to pay the remaining balance.

The SMB program was launched by former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in November 2023 to provide affordable rice at P20 per kilo to indigent residents in participating local government units.

In Mandaue, 1,198 sacks were allocated, but 397 remained undistributed due to worm contamination, purchase restrictions, difficulties reaching remote areas, and the use of outdated beneficiary lists.

The City Agriculture Office and City Health Department later declared the rice unfit for human consumption.

In a press conference, Garcia clarified that the disposal of the unsold sacks is no longer her responsibility and should be handled by the Mandaue City Government.

She noted that other local government units were able to sell their allocations quickly, with some even rolling out the program multiple times.

The SMB program relied on coordination between the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, the local Treasurer’s Offices, and the Municipal and City Social Welfare Offices.

During the courtesy visit to the Capitol, Baricuatro also confirmed P15 million in financial assistance for Mandaue — P13 million through the mayor’s office and P2 million through Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede’s office.

Part of the funds will be used for city projects, including procuring two additional buses for the upcoming Libreng Sakay program.

Aldwin Empaces, Assistant Administrator at the Capitol, said the unsold rice could now be repurposed as animal feed.

The visit also included discussions on further development initiatives for the city.(MyTVCebu)