Heeding the request of jeepney drivers affected by the habagat, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, on Friday (July 25) provides members of the Pasang Masda group the much-needed family food packs (FFPs).
The DSWD coordinated with Pasang Masda national president Roberto “Ka Obet” Martin and has set aside 1,500 boxes of FFPs for the transport group’s members, including those affected in Bulacan.
Joining Secretary Gatchalian in the relief distribution to jeepney drivers were Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) Leo Quintilla and concurrent officer in charge of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB). (AKDL)
DSWD chief assures food aid for jeepney drivers unable to ply routes due to flooded streets
Heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong have significantly affected the livelihood of jeepney drivers who were unable to ply their route due to flooded roads and decrease in ridership.
To ensure that they will not go hungry, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed the Field Office-National Capital Region to extend food assistance in the form of family food packs (FFPs) to 500 members of the Pasang Masda transport group in Tayuman, Manila on Friday (July 25).
“Alam naman natin yung mga jeepney drivers natin halos isang linggo nang hindi bumibyahe dahil baha nga ang mga lansangan at marami sa kanila binaha rin ang mga bahay kaya…nakipag-ugnayan yung isang grupo nila yung Pasang Masda, sa pangunguna ni Ka Obet, kung pwedeng magkaroon ng special na pamimigay ng family food packs sa ating mga jeepney drivers,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters on the sideline of the relief distribution in Tayuman.
The DSWD chief said the agency has allocated a total of 1,500 boxes of FFPs for the jeepney drivers to ensure they have food on their tables as what President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr has always been telling concerned government agencies.
Secretary Gatchalian assured the public that the production of FFPs in the agency’s main production hubs at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu province are ongoing to ensure sufficient stocks of food packs.
“Bago dumating si Crising, tatlong milyon na family food packs ang nasa aming mga bodega at hindi tayo tumigil dyan habang may naka-imbak, tuloy-tuloy ang production,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
“Huwag mag-alala ang ating mga kababayan. Handa ang inyong DSWD, ano mang sakuna pa, ano mang challenge man iyan, may sapat tayong pagkain. Sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, sa ganitong panahon, walang Pilipino ang dapat magutom,” Secretary Gatchalian said.(AKDL)
