The President’s rice visit

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Just like previous presidential visits, the sojourn of President Arroyo to Dumaguete and Negros Oriental yesterday was a full-packed and event-filled one.

While the highlights of her visit may be those expected by the people here, what stands out in the myriad of events that she had to attend was her visit to a rice retailing station of a faith-based ministry.

With rice, a staple fare in any Filipino home, experiencing a shortage among consumers, it is no wonder that President Arroyo’s battlecry is for us to plant rice and more rice. Thus, it was heartwarming to see the Dumaguete City Provider Ministries Fellowship identified as a rice retailing distribution outlet, initially distributing rice to some 100 of its members. It aims to reach out to some 1,000 families in the hinterlands.

The Evangelical church, an affiliate of the Independent Bishops Conference of the Philippines, is among the Pentecostal evangelical churches who are recipients of the NFA faith-based rice retailing program. Specifically, the Dumaguete City Provider Ministries Fellowship started from 40 sacks per week, increasing to rice stocks of 120 sacks per week.

In times of crisis and distress, people usually turn to their faith for guidance and intercession. This should be the best time for faith and government to come together to appease the people’s suffering brought about by the present rice shortage.*