“In this country, every day, I witness a disaster,” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon remarked on the pressing issues of food insecurity and child malnutrition in the Philippines.
According to the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), two percent of Filipino households are severely food insecure. This translates to over 500,000 households, as indicated by the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). UNICEF reports that every day, 95 children in the Philippines succumb to malnutrition.
Addressing agricultural scientists from Southeast Asia at the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences (ISSAAS) conference on November 8 in Manila, Gordon urged them to collaborate with humanitarian leaders, including himself and the government, to “wage a war” against food insecurity and child malnutrition and emphasize the urgency of addressing these issues.
“PRC will concentrate on tackling malnutrition among zero-to-five-year-old children, a critical phase in a child’s development. During the first two months, the PRC plans to distribute food to children aged zero to five and those from impoverished households using its fleet of food trucks. Simultaneously, the PRC will train mothers or guardians on how to prepare nutritious food independently, providing them with sustainable livelihoods.” Gordon explained.
Gordon shared some of the PRC’s ongoing interventions related to food security and nutrition, including hot meal distribution during disasters through PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels, food distribution to impoverished communities through the Food Donation Law (which he authored), the establishment of vegetable and fruit farms nationwide, and the deployment of payloaders to clear farms inundated by mud after typhoons or flooding.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon sent out its Hot Meals On Wheels to provide ready-to-eat meals to 300 individuals, composed of children, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens at Brgy. Sto Niño, Marikina City, on December 11, 2021.
PRC Marikina Chapter also provides proper hand hygiene to children. The chapter also observed health protocols to ensure the safety of all beneficiaries of the hot meals. To date, the PRC food truck has provided hot meals to 112,428 individuals affected by COVID-19.
“Ang pagkain ay isa sa pinaka importanteng supporta na maiibigay natin sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyo, disasters, at armed conflict. Hindi na nila kailangan isipin kung paano ito lulutuin. Sinisugrado din ng Red Cross, kasama an gating mga volunteer chefs, volunteer cooks, at nutrionist na ang mga pagkain ay masustansya at ligtas para sa mga beneficiaries. Patuloy ang Red Cross sa pagbibigay assistance sa mga most vulnerable groups lalo na yung mga naapektuhan ng pandemya,” Chairman Gordon said.
PRC has 28 food trucks stationed in key-strategic areas nationwide to hasten relief operations in times of disaster. The Hot Meals on Wheels program started in 2005, is through the vision and initiative of Sen. Gordon to provide an immediate response to the most vulnerable in times of typhoons, disasters, conflicts, and other humanitarian emergencies.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cebu Chapter team continues to work round the clock, even on non-working holidays, and provide ready-to-eat meals for the most vulnerable last September 09, 2021.
PRC Cebu chapter under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon simultaneously deployed two food trucks in Brgy, Inayawan, Cebu, and District hospitals in Sogod and Tuburan, the northern part of Cebu. The food truck served 464 individuals composed of Senior Citizens, Children aged 5-10 yrs old, and medical frontliners.
“The Philippine Red Cross continues to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the pandemic. Our Red Cross staff and volunteers work tirelessly, that help will be delivered to the most vulnerable and alleviate human suffering and uplifts the dignity of the people,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
The mobile kitchen is scheduled to roll out on September 15, 2021, to the local government unit of Naga, Cebu, and provide assistance to the daily wage workers and Aetas, followed by Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City for 6,000 senior citizens by schedule.
