Mayor orders disposal of UN donations to prevent barbs on electioneering

By Francis Degay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Mayor Franklin Odsey ordered concerned officials here to immediately distribute food donations from the United Nations for victims of recent typhoons before the start of the campaign period.

Odsey told the municipal social welfare development officer Fe Toyokan this was to avoid perceptions food items will be used as campaign materials.

The office of the United Nations in Manila brought foodstuff to this capital town through the provincial social welfare and development office on Jan. 14.

Toyokan said delivered were 23 cartons of biscuits, 23 cartons of cooking oil and 72 cavans of National Food Authority rice for 143 families.

She added the UN preferred to donate supplies or materials rather than money.

Each oil pack contains 6 cans (3.7 kg.) of refined vegetable oil with fortified vitamin A from USAID, 50 pieces high energy biscuits packed in a carton from the Japanese government and a sack of rice.

Priority recipients were listed by barangay disaster coordinating councils and submitted to the Bontoc municipal disaster coordinating council.

To avail of the “work for food program,” families must work for to rehabilitate damaged public pathways and irrigation systems.

Each family is entitled to a one time grant of a food pack that comprises 1can cooking oil, 19 pieces cookies and 25 kilos of rice.

Late last year Typhoon Pepeng wrecked havoc by creating landslides in Sitio Bulala, Kayan East, Tadian town killing several families.

Three men from Bontoc were also drowned when while pathways, roads and irrigation systems were destroyed during the typhoon.