Marawi community takes lead in rehab

Rebuilding Marawi could cost more than $1 billion and will be complete by the end of 2021, officials estimate. But the process could be delayed by questions on land ownership, said Tong Pacasum, who helped evacuate people during the siege and now liaises with the provincial government on rehabilitation. “If we don’t do it right, it will cause more pain and suffering,” he said.

The National Food Authority (NFA) has allocated 40,000 bags of imported rice for Marawi City alone for distribution at P32 per kilogram.

Hazel Belacho, the NFA spokesperson in Northern Mindanao, said the allocation for the war-torn city was part of the 280,000-bag allocation for the region this year.

Belacho said 92,000 bags, or 4,600 metric tons of rice, arrived at the port of Cagayan de Oro City on Friday for distribution in Marawi, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Camiguin.

The imported rice was to be sold for as much as P32 per kilogram, Belacho said as she warned NFA retailers against overpricing.

Officials are now reviewing the licenses of retailers for their allocations.

In Digos City, two rice traders have responded to President Duterte’s call to sell rice at P39 per kg.

Henry Sorongon and Yolanda Crispino, who were also millers, agreed to allot 12 50-kg bags of rice to be sold at that price every day in Digos alone, said Lucia Balayon, NFA manager for Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental.

Balayon said the traders were taking part in the Tulong Bayan program of the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines launched in response to Mr. Duterte’s appeal.

She said she was optimistic other traders would heed the plea.

Well-milled commercial rice varieties are being sold in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental for P42-P50 per kg.

Balayon said she expected rice prices to fall further soon.