As hunger stalks Catanduanes typhoon victims, tons of NFA rice supply drenched by rains

As thousands of Catanduanes residents stave off hunger while reeling from the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly, authorities discovered that some 8,000 sacks of rice at the National Food Authority’s (NFA) warehouse were laid to waste by the powerful storm.

According to Ian Cruz’ “24 Oras” report on Thursday, the sacks of rice were prepositioned for distribution as relief goods at the NFA’s Catanduanes warehouse in anticipation of Rolly’s impact.

Days since the storm lashed the province, however, several residents said they have yet to receive aid.

“Kahit isa, wala pa po,” one woman said of the assistance she has yet to receive.

“Nagkakaubusan po lahat ng stock. Sarado po ang ibang mga tindahan,” a vendor added.

The sacks of rice stored at the NFA warehouse could have fed thousands of residents, but Rolly tore off the building’s roof and drenched the stocks.

The rice had turned yellowish and developed mold.

“Sa experience plus sa physical appearance niya, ‘yung amoy, lahat lahat, mukhang hindi na po siya dapat i-benta or i-dispose as feed ingredients,” NFA Bicol director Edna De Guzman said.

“Baka po lalo tayong magkaroon ng problema, maapektuhan ‘yung mga hayop na kakain nito,” she added.

Over 300,000 people reside in Catanduanes, but not all residents get their rice from the NFA.

“Ang daily consumption requirement ng Catanduanes, kung lahat ng tao ng Catanduanes ay bibili at kakain ng kanin mula sa bigas ng NFA, 1,700 a day,” De Guzman said.

“Ang priority kasi namin ay binebenta ito sa local government units para sa relief operations talaga.”

The roof of the NFA’s Catanduanes office was also damaged but work goes on as authorities await the arrival of some 7,000 sacks of rice from Camarines Sur.

The rice had to be brought in from Camarines Sur after 15,000 sacks were similarly drenched by Rolly’s heavy downpour at the NFA warehouse in Tabaco, Albay.

With its warehouse damaged, the NFA said all incoming rice shipments will be delivered straight to local governments after documentation and inventory procedures are completed.

“Agad agad po kaming nagpadala. Sa ngayon po, may dadating kaagad na 700 bags na nag-usap na kami ni Governor kasama si Manager Julie kung saan muna ‘yun iiimbak para maipamigay nila bilang relief sa mga taong naapektuhan ng bagyo,” De Guzman said.

Around 10,000 more sacks of rice are expected to arrive.

“Lahat ng bibili, siguro hindi na namin i-store, tuloy tuloy na sa ano, kanya kanyang withdrawal na sila,” NFA Catanduanes’ provincial economist Jose Lim said.

In another Catanduanes warehouse, some 1,000 sacks of palay (unhusked rice) bought from farmers were ruined by Rolly.

“Hindi po papayagan ni Presidente Duterte na magkulang ng pagkain at tubig sa Catanduanes. ‘Yan po ang pangako ng presidente. Sa katunayan, 60 tons po of relief goods ay naririyan na,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured.

Meanwhile, over 90 percent of electrical posts in Catanduanes remain down.

The National Electrification Administration earlier said that power had been restored to 52.27 percent of regions hit by Rolly. 

The signal of telecommunications networks has also improved in certain spots in Catanduanes.

Rolly made its first landfall early Sunday morning in the town of Bato.

The cyclone isolated the entire Catanduanes and damaged some 10,000 houses. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News