Pacquiao: Use P33-B aid to buy rice

Sen. Manny Pacquiao (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The government can put the P33.1 billion aid to better use by using the funds to buy 20 million sacks of rice, which will benefit both local farmers and the poor families who will receive the rice.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao renewed his call for the government to do away with its P200 monthly aid and just give rice to the poor so they won’t go hungry amid the rising prices of fuel products.

In a statement, he pointed out that the “measly” monthly aid won’t make an impact in providing relief to the poorest of the poor, as P6 a day is not enough to buy even a single egg.

He added that the P33.1 billion needed for a year’s worth of aid to 12 million households could buy 2.5 million metric tons of palay or 1.25 million metric tons of milled rice from local farmers.

This means that the National Food Authority can buy from local farmers 20 million sacks of rice, or a month’s supply good for 20 million poor families.

“The rich won’t understand that a sack of rice is like a gift from heaven for poor Filipinos,” Pacquiao said.

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