The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA commends the initiative of various Local Government Units in the region - Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Odiongan, Romblon, Aborlan, Palawan and the province of Marinduque for including fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and fish to their food packs being distributed to households including frontline workers in their communities. With these initiatives of the Local Chief Executives (LCEs), each household will be assured of nutritious food packs for the whole family. This will also help local farmers to vend their produced fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals which boost our immune system to fight diseases and infections like the COVID-19. The rationing of the food packs is one of the preventive strategies of the LGUs to contain the spread of COVID 19 since families will no longer go to the market or talipapa to buy their food.
The beneficiaries of this food packs are households that are affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), including the families of daily wage earners like construction workers, public utility vehicle drivers, among others.
According to Aborlan, Palawan Mayor Celsi Adier, with the help of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the municipality purchased agricultural products like mangoes, bananas, upo, labong and puso ng saging from local farmers to include in their food packs which they distributed to their COVID-19 frontline workers and affected households. More than 11,000 food packs were distributed in different barangays.
Similarly, the City of Calapan and the municipality of Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro also bought fresh fruits like melon and watermelon and rice for families and health workers and check point personnel on duty. A total of 9,000 food packs in Abra de Ilog, were already distributed to affected household of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Further, the Sangguniang Kabataan of barangay General E. Aguinaldo, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro initiated and spearheaded the distribution and delivery of food packs to the families in the municipality.
Aside from distributing rice, fruits and vegetables, the Provincial Government of Marinduque and the municipality of Odiongan, Romblon distributed seeds and seedlings to families including vendors for extra assistance.
NNC MIMAROPA encourages all local government units in the region to prioritize the delivery of health and nutrition services in times of emergency by providing assistance to families affected by the ECQ. (AVETPatriarca)
