By Warren Elijah Valdez
DAVAO CITY - Amid the implemented and extended enhanced community quarantine in the different parts of the country due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), various humanitarian efforts have surfaced to alleviate the scarcity challenges faced by the greatly affected indigent communities.
(AFP Eastmincom / MANILA BULLETIN)
More than 100 families in Davao region have benefited from the “Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko” program launched by the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom). The program, which was launched from April 13-20, has reached the cities of Asuncion and Panabo in Davao del Norte, and some barangays in Davao City, covering a total of 120 needy families.
The program is initiated by EastMinCom in partnership with the REACT Echo Panabo, Double Dragon Properties Corporations and Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation. Its aim is to reach out to the indigent families vulnerable to the recruitment of communist terrorist and to the threat brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko program aims to provide food and water to the poorest of the poor in the identified communities to help sustain the indigent families’ basic commodity needs. The operation will be done at least once a week until such time that the (enhanced) community quarantine will be lifted.
The selected indigent families of the identified communities were able receive basic commodity goods such as rice, canned goods, noodles, soap, and eggs were given to the selected families in the community, which was made possible through the efforts of the Bayanihan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) represented by the 5th Civil Relations Group and with the assistance of other donors.
Meanwhile, the barangay captains are tasked to inventory those families who cannot sustain the prolonged quarantine in the community.
“The objective of this program is to build an atmosphere of cooperation, benevolence and closer relationship among the members of the barangay, regardless of their status in life,” the EastMinCom said in a statement.
“Therefore, it is necessary that we shape the environment such that even if resources would become scarce, those who have and the needy alike would still coexist harmoniously and would cooperate to resolve problems at hand,” it added. In hopes of bridging the gap and eliminating animosity amongst the community members, the EastMinCom takes the liberty of seeing this program as a bridging opportunity “to create an environment of generosity, compassion and respect.”
“Such that even when the national resources become scarce, the kabayans and kapwas shall work hand-in-hand to resolve issues and hurdle challenges together, rather than resulting in discord and chaos. It is not far-fetched that a breakdown in law and order may occur if the national resources become scarce and at the same time animosity exists among the members of the community,” it said.