LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A total of 6,500 families from six municipalities in Camarines Sur province affected by typhoon “Kristine” and super typhoon “Pepito” have received food packs from Ako Bicol party-list over the weekend.
AKO Bicol party-list in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Bicol distributed food packs to 6,500 families in six towns in Camarines Sur.
House Appropriations Committee chairman Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co said that 1,000 families in Presentacion were given food packs; 1,500 in Lagonoy town; 1,000 families in Goa town; 1,000 families in Siruma town, 1,000 families in Tinambac town, and 1,000 in Caramoran town.
These municipalities were severely affected by Pepito.
Co said that food packs were provided in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. A food pack contains six kilos of rice, coffee, powdered cereal drink, corned beef, can of tuna, and sardines.
Mayor Carina Ramos-Polinga of Siruma said that at least 3,000 families mostly in coastal barangays were affected by recent tropical cyclones.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa amin na mayroon assistance from Ako Bicol. Sabi ko salamat kasi ‘yung ibang barangay hindi talaga namin napuntahan kasi nagkulang kami sa food packs. Although yung DSWD ay binigyan na po kami and assistance from Cong. Fuentebella, pero kulang po talaga. ‘Yung mga barangay na hindi po namin napuntahan, napunuan po ng Ako Bicol,” Polinga said.
Polinga appealed for more food packs from the national government and from DSWD.
“Sa national government sana po, nakiki-usap kami kasi ‘yung laging experience namin sa DSWD pag nare-request kami ng ganitong foods packs, and ‘yung binibigay lang ay limited. Paki-usap ko sana napaka-simple naman ‘yan na request ko, di ba po? ‘Yung food packs lang. Paki-usap ko sana kung ano ‘yung nirequest namin doon sa regional office sana mabigay lahat kasi kung makikita nyo po, ang layo ng Siruma. Sana, kasi ang plano namin, meron kami laging stockpiling incase na may dumating na masamang panahon,” she said.