THE MAKABAYAN bloc at the House of Representatives filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the delayed distribution of the one-time rice allowance to public school teachers.

House Resolution 1082 was filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.

The group said the government allocated P1.18 billion for the rice assistance program for almost 1.83 million government employees, with the price per kilo of rice set at P25.

However, it said that the rice provided to teachers in several provinces was of poor quality leading to questions about where the government sourced the rice.

“Extremely late na nga ang pagbibigay ng rice allowance na ito ay halos bulok na at di makain yung ipinamigay na sa mga guro. Nakakainsulto naman ito sa mga kaguruan at bakit ganito ang nangyayari?” Castro said.

She said that they received complaints that the rice given to teachers in Nueva Ecija, Mindoro and Bacolod City were inedible while the provisions for the rest of the regions have yet to be released.

“The rice allowance should have been distributed last year but it is already June 2023 and still the rice allowance are not fully distributed. Sa ilang mga rehiyon, pinapirma na ang mga guro sa acknowledgment receipt kahit hindi pa naibibigay ang bigas” the lawmaker added.

“Nasasayang lamang ang buwis ng mamamayan sa bigas na hindi makain at nainsulto pa ang ating mga guro na umaasa sa kaunting benepisyong kanilang matatanggap. Sa ganitong kalagayan ay dapat na kagyat na imbestigahan ito ng Kongreso pero dapat din na maibigay na ang rice assistance at tiyakin na angkop ang kalidad nito,” she said.