Davao City Council approves P31.5M rice aid to drought-hit farmers in North Cotabato

DAVAO CITY – The City Council here approved on Tuesday, the release of P31.5 million in rice assistance to the drought-stricken farmers of North Cotabato.

The allocation will be used to buy 15,000 sacks of rice that the protesting farmers have been demanding from the provincial government of North Cotabato.

The farmers were among the thousands who barricaded the Davao-Cotabato road in Kidapawan City to press for their demand. On Friday, however, police dispersed the protesting farmers, leaving three people dead and at least 100 other wounded.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the presidential candidate of PDP-Laban, earlier refused to comment on the dispersal but promised to provide the 15,000 sacks of rice.

This move irked North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who said that rice donation would be an insult to her governance.

Despite the governor’s statement, rice donations poured in from artists, private citizens and groups.  SFM