Bukidnon solon opens community pantry for flood victims, thanks Speaker Romualdez
A victim of the recent floods in Bukidnon receives eggs and other food items during the opening of the community pantry on Saturday, July 8. (Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores' office)
Using funds received from the office of the House Speaker, Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores launched on Saturday, July 8 a community pantry for victims of the recent floods in the province. "We started the community pantry last Saturday (July 8) in Barangay Managok. This is the hard-hit barangay during the flooding," Flores said in a statement Sunday, July 9. Over 6,800 families were adversely affected by the flooding in BukIdnon that took place last June 21. "On behalf of my constituents, I give my heartfelt thanks to House Speaker Martin Romualdez; his wife, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez; and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre for their assistance that made this community pantry possible. We will not forget your compassion," Flores said. Flores said he asked the assistance of the city's agriculturist to source produce from local farmers for the purpose of the community pantry. Fresh goods such as eggs, vegatables, and rice were placed in green eco bags and given away to Managok residents during the opening of the community pantry. Relief goods were also distributed earlier. Before this, Speaker Romualdez and Reps. Romualdez and Acidre put together a calamity assistance package amounting to P11 million for Flores' district. This consisted of P500,000 worth of cash assistance; P500,000 in relief goods; and P10 million worth of payouts from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
(Rep. Flores' office)
Upon receiving the P500,000 cash aid, Flores thought of using the money to put up a community pantry to provide immediate sustenance to flood victims. He was inspired by actions of Albay 3rd district Rep. Fernando Cabredo, who had set up a community pantry for evacuees of Mayon Volcano's continued restiveness. Cabredo's district also received an P11-million calamity assistance package from Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list.