DSWD sets healthier food aid for storm evacuees
As the number of evacuees fleeing the wrath of Supertyphoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi) rose on Wednesday, the government said it would start incorporating more nutritious ingredients in the meals and food items to be delivered to the families staying in the shelters.
It will try to improve on the usual fare of relief goods consisting of rice, canned goods and powdered drinks — items making up the ”family food packs” (FFP) prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for its calamity response.
Aside from the FFP, the DSWD will also distribute “ready-to-eat” meals of higher nutritional value, both to tide the families over and address any incidence of malnutrition among the children to make them less vulnerable to illnesses during their stay in the evacuation centers.
“Right now what we’re using is FFP (family food packs)… What we want next — and is already in the procurement process — is ready-to-eat meals,” Gatchalian said in one of the sessions held by the government on Tuesday to expound on the State of the Nation Address (Sona) delivered by President Marcos on July 22.
Proposed menu
For now, the meals will “complement” and not replace the FFPs, said Assistant Secretary Dumlao, also of the DSWD.
At the same session, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said the DSWD’s ready-to-eat meals would include iron-fortified rice, nutribun with vegetable flavors, pancit canton with squash, and rice-mongo instant blends, among others.
This combination is based on the findings of a national nutrition survey conducted by his agency, Solidum added.
“Essentially, these [studies] would look at available commodities that can be converted into something that is nutritious,” Solidum said.
45,000 families affected
As of late Wednesday afternoon, the DSWD said a total of 45,328 families, or 91,062 individuals from 10 regions, including Metro Manila, have been affected by the heavy rains and flooding caused by Carina as it enhanced the southwest monsoon or “habagat”.
At least 1,702 families, or 6,524 individuals, have been taken to evacuation centers, the agency said.
Outside the capital region, among the most affected were Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and the Cordilleras.
