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Manila: The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has pledged to support government efforts to distribute subsidised rice among the poor, a radio report said.
CBCP representative Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and representatives of the National Food Authority (NFA), which has been importing rice from Thailand, sealed the agreement during a meeting at the Manila Hotel yesterday.
The Department of Agriculture will ensure a weekly supply 50,000 to 60,000 sacks of NFA rice to various parishes in Metro Manila, said Father Mar Castillo of Caritas Manila. He said the scheme "would be tested" in six Metro Manila dioceses that would be tasked with the "distribution and sale of rice in the parishes".
The church was also looking to evolve a system whereby payments would be deposited in banks to facilitate easier government receipts, said Castillo.
Currently, there are a total of 84 parishes in Metro Manila, but only 40 of these have cooperatives that get rice supplies from the government.
"Eventually we will go national. The plan is to involve other inter-faith groups," said Castillo.
- With inputs by Cher Jimenez, Correspondent, Manila
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