Bicol is a resilient region being situated in “calamity gateway”. Annually, an average of 20 typhoons pass Bikolandia with varying number of instances of flood and landslides. Every summer, two or three (often, un-publicized) forest fires especially around Mayon and other mountains. Every decade, an eruption of Mayon Volcano and, sometimes, Bulusan Volcano. Add to that the occasional residential fires brought about by negligence (an arson, perhaps).
Because of being in the “calamity gateway”, it is assumed that distribution of relief goods or disaster-related assistance is already systematized and mechanisms as well as structures are already in place. But is it, really?
We scanned the internet and social media pages of LGUs and ordinary citizens and looked into the contents of food packs being distributed by local government units in these times of enhanced community quarantine under the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The following are the contents:
The typical food packs. The typical food packs contain
- 2 kilos (at least) of rice
- 2 cans of sardines (minimum)
Add-ons. In some areas, the following are the add-ons especially under the ECQ:
- 2 packs of noodles (minimum)
- 2 cans of corned beef
- 1 pack instant coffee
- i pack milk
- 1/2 kilo to 1 kilo of sugar
- non-food items like mask, alcohol, and soap
Innovations. Moving a step away from your typical food packs, there are LGUs that introduced new items in the bag. The best way to fight Covid-19 is to maintain a healthy body so some LGUs introduce the following:
Fish — Mayor Boy Galicia of Rapu-rapu in Albay distributed tilapia and bangus, Sorsogon coastal areas and some parts of Albay distributed “law-law”, and Mercedes in Camarines Norte also distributed fresh fish caught in San Miguel Bay. The provincial government of Sorsogon also also bought and processed fresh sardines to smoked fish and distributed the same to the different municipalities. Fish is a good source of protein, Vitamins B and E, magnesium, iron and zinc.
Meat — On the Easter Sunday, Mayor Galicia of Rapu-rapu distributed port, turkey and chicken while Mayors Jose EdwinHamor and Ester Hamor of Casiguran and Sorsogon City, respectively, distributed chicken. LGU-Guinobatan, Albay also distributed pork last March. Like fish, meat also is rich in protein, Vitamins B and E, magnesium, iron and zinc.
Vegetables — Not just to make the bodies healthy and strong but also to help local farmers, a number of LGUs distributed vegetables among them the provincial government of Albay, Tabaco City and Bacacay.
Eggs — Bacacay and the City of Ligao, both in Albay also distributed eggs. Eggs are known for Vitamin B12, biotin, iodine, selenium, choline, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and protein.
How about you, what are the food pack contents that your LGU distributes? Feel free to share in our Facebook and Twitter or simply write in the comments section below.
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