Tindahan Natin to sell affordable food items to indigent families

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will be implementing a program that provides low-priced but good quality rice and noodles to low-income families through the Tindahan Natin (TN) Project. The TN project is a national government initiative for job generation, livelihood and food security. The goods will be sold in stores jointly identified and endorsed by the DSWD, City/Municipal Social Welfare offices of the local government units, the barangay council and subsequently accredited by the National Food Authority.

The distribution of the government-subsidized rice and noodles is a pro-poor poverty alleviation project to be implemented initially in the 17 towns and a city in the provinces of Bohol and Oriental Negros. The said towns will be the municipalities of Amlan, San Jose, Bayawan, Ayungon, Bacong, Bindoy, Dauin, Siaton, Pamplona and Vallehermoso including Tanjay City in Negros Oriental and Bien Unido, Balilihan, Anda, Loboc, Catigbian and Dimiao in Bohol. These areas were identified because of the high statistics of hunger and poverty incidence classified as vulnerable, very vulnerable and most vulnerable.

The said target areas for the TN project were chosen by the National Nutrition Council. There will be 55 outlets.

The TN stores will be selling rice at P18.00 per kilo and fortified noodles below P5.00 each. According to President Arroyo, she wants to keep the prices of rice and noodles at an affordable level.

The 35 billion budget of TN is from government savings. This is used to subsidize selected food items and finance projects for the poor. - Jasmin R. Uy and Cheryl Baldicantos