Activist groups deliver food relief to urban poor in Baguio, La Trinidad

FOOD RELIEF -- A recipient brings home 25 kilos of rice; assorted vegetables and groceries of cooking oil, salt, sugar, mongo beans, dried fish and canned goods delivered by social activists composing the Serve the People Brigade – Cordillera Disaster Response Network (STPB).

By Gina Dizon  

BAGUIO CITY- Food relief meant to last for at least a month reached 309 families in identified parts of Baguio City, La Trinidad and Itogon Benguet in response to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to Covid-19.

The food relief pack consisted of 25 kilograms of rice; 2.5 kg of vegetables; and assorted groceries of cooking oil, salt, sugar, monggo beans, dried fish and canned goods delivered by social activists composing Serve the People Brigade (STPB)– Cordillera Disaster Response Network.

Recipients of the food relief were urban poor families with informal jobs as market vendors, jeepney drivers, musicians and construction workers residing in 30 barangays in Baguio City, 9 barangays in La Trinidad, Benguet, and one barangay in Itogon.

Priority was given to the elderly, sick and recovering from sickness, persons with disability, and stranded students.

A mother, one among the beneficiaries expressed relief that the food delivered was a blessing because she has just cooked the last of their rice supply and was thinking of borrowing rice from the store.

A recipient in Pinget, Baguio City said, “salamat unay. Ibingayak ni ading ko ken maysa nga kasinsin ko. Agpapada kami nga awanen panggedan ket awanen maisaang.” (Thank you so much. I will share this food to my cousin. We are in the same situation affected with no livelihood and no food to cook.)

Support given by organizations, groups and individuals and facilitated by the  STPB reached the beneficiaries March 20 to April 9.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) chairperson Windel Bolinget said some funds meant for the celebration of the cancelled April 24 Cordillera Day was given for  purchase of food items.  

CPA is one of the lead organizations of the SPB-CDRN with member organizations from different parts of the Cordillera region.

The militant organization annually celebrates the April 24 death of Kalinga pangat leader Macliing Dulag who fought against the damming of the Chico River in the ‘70s.

STPB delivered food relief and Vitamin C to 26 families in Baguio City last week of March followed with the distribution of 280 sacks of rice in identified areas April 7-9. Also, 23 stranded students were given relief packs which contained 10 kilograms of rice, vegetables and grocery items per pack.

Secretary General Sarah Dekdeken of CPA said, “the STPB identified poor families and displaced workers in the informal sector who have no source of money to buy food. We chose to distribute one sack of rice per family so that it could last for more days especially that the lockdown has been extended to April 30.”

“We have encountered numerous requests for food relief belonging to poor families. Quite a number have also sent us messages requesting for food relief, saying they are running out of food and they do not know where to get food for their children” Dekdeken added.

This as complaints of food relief from government not reaching them was aired in social media and in communities reached by STPB.

One food relief pack distributed by local government units/DSWD is composed of six kilograms of rice, six canned goods, 5 sachets of coffee, 5 sachets of milo and 5 noodles.

STPB aims to distribute food relief to families to other parts of the Cordillera.

CPA appeals for support for food relief, vitamins and basic medicines, and materials for the making of protective equipment as face masks and face shields.

“It is heartbreaking to learn many especially the poor are in dire need of economic aid and relief but our food relief is not enough. Duterte has announced billions but it’s not reaching them. So, we ask where is the money?” Bolinget said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has announced a P200 billion food and cash subsidy for 18 million Filipinos in to address the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act granting the President special powers to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.                    The STPB calls for donations to help in their relief operations considering the extended lockdown to April 30.

For donations and inquiries, contact Serve the People Brigade – Cordillera Disaster Response Network, Health for the People Brigade and Cordillera Peoples Alliance via Facebook pages in private message. Email cpa@cpaphils.org and mobile number: 0917-155-1570.