The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga is now delivering a total of 15,180 family food packs amounting to Php6,223,800 to the Social Action Centers (SACs), Red Cross, and parishes of the drought-affected areas in the region for their distribution to the 3,795 farmers.

Each farmer is expected to receive 24 kilos of rice, 32 tins of tinapa and corned beef/beef loaf, 24 pieces of noodles, and 24 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee amounting to Php1,640 per family.

As mentioned, the Department tapped the said action centers to assist in the distribution of goods since it is election period.

“We are very thankful for the cooperation of our parishes and the Red Cross who willingly agreed to hand these food packs to the farmers,” said Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli.

“Kuyog ang mga kauban nato sa Gobyerno, and DSWD nakarekognisar sa kamadalian nga pag-responde sa sitwasyon hilabina sa kagutom nga naka-apekto sa atong mga kabus nga kaigsuononan sa daghan nga bahin sa atong nasud (Along with the rest of the Government, DSWD recognizes the urgency of responding to the situation of hunger affecting the poor in many parts of the country),” she added.

“Atong ginasuguro sa publiko nga kita nagapasalig nga mas maningkamot, sulod sa atong mandato, nga i-siguro ang pagkaon muabot sa mga tawo nga labaw nga nanginahanglan sa karong panahon sa krisis dala sa El Ni ño (We assure the public that we are committed to work even harder, within our mandate, to ensure that food reaches those who needed them the most especially in this time of crisis),” Brigoli quipped.

Per Department of Agriculture (DA) information, the following are the drought-affected  cities/municipalities: Buenavista, Carmen (Agusan del Norte), Las Nieves, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Cabadbaran City, Butuan City, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, Hinatuan, Gigaquit, and Taganaan.

The DSWD-Caraga’s staff stationed in the above-mentioned areas are closely monitoring the status and welfare of the farmers for other interventions possibly needed. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)