By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following a complaint claiming “foul smelling” rice was delivered to the Home for the Blind in Barangay Mansilingan, the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) said the issue has already been resolved.
According to Vangie Abaring, the DSSD associate assigned to the facility, the matter was resolved during a meeting with DSSD Social Welfare Officer IV Sally Abelarde last week.
Abaring said they decided to reduce the quantity of rice the agency would be supplying, claiming it would result in better rice quality.
However, according to complainant Rosendo Castillo, in his meeting with Abelarde, he claims the DSSD officer grew upset because he raised the issue.
He said he took his grievance to the Bacolod City National Food Authority (NFA) office, who said they did not provide the supply, calling it “old stock rice.”
Castillo is demanding the agency to change their rice supplier.
“This problem with the rice subsidy is not an old issue for the Home for the Blind,” he said./WDJ