Siargao Island -- After typhoon Odette hit the Island of Siargao, securing safe food and water sources were among the biggest challenges. Lokal Lab, a non-government organization, was able to secure funding from World Central Kitchen and coordinated with different community kitchen providers in Siargao in order to provide hot meals to families in different areas hit by the typhoon.

From December 24, 2021 up to date, the community kitchen providers have already served 905,036 meals to 94 barangays in the different municipalities in Siargao Island. Majority of the community kitchens will be finishing their service at the end of February, as they are already almost a few meals away from their target of reaching 1,000,000 meals served.

Bayanihan, which is one of the positive Filipino values that inspires a community to help each other out was seen in the volunteers who offered their resources to be able to purchase, prepare, transport and serve healthy hot meals to thousands of people in Siargao.
Among the community kitchen providers under Lokal Lab partnership were Villa Cali, Siargao Community Kitchen, Alma Kitchen, Sun Crew, Arka, Espoir School of Life, Inc., Anahawan Community Kitchen, Ane’s Community Kitchen, Nomad, De Oro Farmers Association and Halian Community Kitchen. There were also other groups providing meals, such as Vedya, Kolekbibo, Nature Kids of Siargao, Union Community Kitchen, Siargao Bed and Brew, Shaka Café, Homemade Taste Carenderia, and Union Community Kitchen. All these providers were able to organize themselves into one group in order to make sure that there is no duplication of services in an area and eventually reach more families.

Some of these community kitchen providers were local restaurants operating in the island before the typhoon. These groups have surely made a lasting impact to the thousands of lives they have saved through the food they have continuously and tirelessly prepared and provided for almost two months to the people affected by the typhoon. #APDPilar