An old program which Gov. Gwen Garcia first introduced during her earlier term at the Capitol is making a comeback amidst the shortage of rice supply from the National Food Authority (NFA) for the Capitol’s rice-centric programs.
Gov. Garci, in a speech in Boljoon during the Caravan of Services last March 12, said she is reviving the “Saksak Program” for the Capitol’s Sugbo School Feeding Program which provides one free meal for all students of DepEd, from Kindergarten to Senior High School, five times a week until the school year ends.
Saksak is a Cebuano word that literally means a thing that is “shuffled” or “mixed”. It is also an acronym for Gov. Gwen’s “Sinanduloy Alang sa Kabusog, Sinanduloy Alang sa Kahimsog”, a program that she had introduced during times of rice shortage in the past.
Cebuanos of old are very familiar with Saksak or Sinanduloy, as it is a manner of cooking rice or corn grits “mixed” with sweet potatoes, thereby augmenting the serving of the Filipino’s staple food — a method that is very effective especially during difficult times when resources are scarce.
Generations of Visayans have attested to the effectivity of Saksak or Sinanduloy in alleviating hunger, aside from its unassailable nutritional value.
“Ato na lang hangyoon ang matag lungsod, nga kuyog sa DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), kuyog sa mga mag-uuma, sagolan nato na og kamote. Mobalik ta sa Sinanduloy. Mobalik ta sa Saksak,” Gov. Garcia said in Boljoon.
“Paliton sa Province of Cebu ang stock nga kamote gikan sa atong mga mag-uuma, ug atong awhagon ang atong PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) nga kini tagod-taguron, isagol sa bugas, aron lamian ug nutritious na kaayo ang atong mapakaon sa atong mga kabataan,” she added.
For the Capitol’s other programs such as the Bugasan sa Kababayen-an (which sells rice at P27 per kilo in the barangays) and the Sugbo Merkadong Barato (which sells rice at P20 per kilo to verified indigents in the LGUs), the governor said help is on the way.
She revealed that Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who visited her office with Special Assistant to the President Sec. Antonio Lagdameo Jr. last March 8, said that the NFA shall sell rice once again to the Capitol in the middle of April — with the governor already making a reservation of at least 8,000 metric tons of NFA rice.
“Hinaot unta makuha nato ang atong gihangyo kay aron mas mapalapdan pa, mas daghan pa ang makapalit sa baynte pesos por kilo nga bugas,” Gov. Gwen said. | IPA
*Photo courtesy Dee's KitchenLab