This pandemic has brought many of our countrymen to their knees to experience the lowest of lows. We all had our share of suffering during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)—but we, Filipinos, still found the means to help each other, most importantly, to help our struggling kababayans and frontline workers.
The inability to work or open for business resulted in a lack of income and starvation. RDF Feed, Livestock & Foods, Inc. (RDFFLFI) generously shared production to as many afflicted families and frontliners as possible, from the start of ECQ last March until it ended in May. The company is behind Fresh Options Meatshop and business units such as Meats & Match, Roberto’s Coffee and Tea, Lodestar Feedmill and Veterinary Products, E-Pig, and Red Dragon Farm.
Dr. Robert H. Lo, a veterinarian by profession, embarked on his business venture in 1986 and founded this group of enterprises in 2012. The rocky beginning and bumpy journey have reinforced why Dr. Robert and his resilient team believe in striving for a fresh start.
It all started with quail farming. In 1988, Red Dragon Farm (RDF) was established as a contract grower for San Miguel Corporation. Just three years after, however, Mt. Pinatubo erupted and destroyed all the farms in Pampanga. Three more years later, RDF began its first fresh start. Then the Asian crisis hit the Philippines, almost killing the poultry and farming industry, but the beginning of a new millennium brought RDF its next fresh start. Major obstacles and other drawbacks have made the current RDFFLFI a stronger corporation. This is why the company is eager to reach and assist as many impoverished Filipinos and the weary, brave frontliners toward their journey to their own fresh start.
Mariveles General Hospital (Mariveles Bataan)
When the ECQ started, RDFFLFI began to distribute more than 5,000 meals for our modern-day heroes. This happened from March 21 until May 21. Most beneficiaries are the staff of the designated Covid-19 hospitals near RDF farms and Fresh Options outlets, namely, Jose B. Lingad General Hospital (San Fernando, Pampanga), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (San Fernando, Pampanga), Philippine Rehabilitation Institute (Angeles City), Ospital ng Angeles (Pampanga), Valenzuela Emergency Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, Mexico Community Hospital (Pampanga), Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center (San Fernando, Pampanga), Mariveles General Hospital (Bataan), University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (Quezon City), Clark Medical City (Pampanga), and Angeles University Foundation Medical Hospital (Pampanga).
Checkpoint within Municipality of Mariveles (Mariveles Bataan)
The company delivered an additional 600 meals to some households around the Municipality of Porac, Pampanga and St. Francis of Assissi of Parish in Nueva Ecija. Moreover, RDFFLFI provided 60 food packs to the frontline officers of San Fernando, Pampanga checkpoint.
Mexico Community Hospital (Mexico Pampanga)
Tarlac Provincial Capitol, April 8, 2020 -- Donated 1,000 kg chicken
Fresh Options also distributed over 15,000 kilos of chicken to medical frontliners and households around the Pampanga Provincial Capitol, the Tarlac Provincial Capitol, Capas, Tarlac, Moncada, Tarlac, San Fernando, Pampanga, Porac, Pampanga, Florida, Pampanga, Angeles, Pampanga, Magalang Municipality, Pampanga, Barangay San Pablo Magalang, Pampanga, Barangay Lara, Pampanga, San Jose, Tarlac, Mt. Carmel Church, Tarlac, and Barangay Manibaug, Pampanga. Even stranded students at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna received 500 packs of Fresh Options’ Ulam Mismo.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (City of San Fernando)
The crisis has struck our nation and the world, but RDFFLFI and Fresh Options believe firmly in the power of lending a helping hand to also give others the chance of a fresh start, because a fresh start marks a stronger comeback.
Let us spread care and optimism amid this global pandemic.