Atty. Ronelie D. Ubando-Valtoribio, vice mayor-LGU Villaverde, urged fellow public servants to make relief packs nutritious by including local farmers produced such as vegetables and fruits during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Napansin ko kasi na yung mga relief goods natin are more on canned good and noodles, yung nutrients na dapat makuha ng  bata ay hindi magiging sapat lalo na sa krisis na pinagdadaanan natin ngayon,” Vice Mayor Valtoribio emphasized during her interview with the National Nutrition Council Region 02.

This initiative started as a personal appeal of Vice Mayor Valtoribio when she noticed that many Local Government Units are distributing instant foods to their relief pack. This initiative augments the on going relief pack distribution of the municipality.

“Nung nakita ko kasing marami naming poproduced ang ating mga farmers at saying lang ding masira ito dahil sarado ang ibang palengke. Mas okay nalang bilhin ito at iaugment sa binibigay ng munisipyo na mga relief packs,” as she explained that it will be both win-win situation to their constituents as well as to their farmers.

Seeing the benefits of her initiative, LGU Villaverde-Sangguniang Bayan members shared from their own money to also help to the initiative of Vice Mayor Valtoribio.

“Nakakatuwang  na nahiyakat ko yung ibang SB members ng makita nilang pwede naman pala ang ganitong bagay, natutulungan na namin ang mga farmers nasisigurado pa namin ang kalusugan ng bawat pamilya. Napakafeasible pala kahit sa murang halagalang,” relayed by Vice Mayor Valtoribio.

Currently, they have reached total of four barangays, 3, 200 households and planned to reach all barangays of  Villaverde for the entire quarantine period.

“To all LGus, personally funded, LGU funded, Government funded or donations we urged everyone not to limit ourselves to canned goods and instant foods, we can strategize ways to ensure that our relief packs are nutritious yet affordable for all of our constituents,” as she urged fellow public servants.