The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology-Food and the Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), will soon provide ready-to-eat meals to families and individuals that will be affected by disasters.

“Pagdating sa disaster response, tama si Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., nag-uusap na kami at ipaprocure na namin yung ready-to-eat boxes kung tawagin. Kasi right now, what we are using is the family food pack (FFP), yung good for three to five days na mga de lata, packed rice. Ang gusto naman natin now and in the coming days, pino-procure na and we are in the process of it, yung ready-to-eat meals,” DSWD Secretary Gatchalian said at the 2024 Post-SONA Discussions at the Hilton Hotel in Pasay City on Tuesday (July 23).

Nutritionists from the DOST-FNRI have already developed ready-to-eat meals consisting of nutritious food items such as ready-to-eat noodles and protein bars.

“Medyo masalimuot kasi ang naging proseso because we have to test, make sure na hindi lang sya masustansya at kaaya-aya rin yung lasa. Kasi alam natin na kapag biktima ng isang sakuna ay mababa na ang moral, the last thing you will tell them ay ‘okay yan kainin kahit wala namang lasa’. Hindi tama yun, so we want to make sure na nutritious, delicious and affordable and proudly made by Filipino companies,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

The DSWD chief said the ready-to-eat meals will be provided to families affected by the disaster while the local government units (LGUs), the first responders during disaster situations, are in the initial stage of their disaster response.

“So, in the interim, tinitignan mo normally from the incident all the way to around 8 hours or even mga 6 hours. Habang nag-aantay yung mga victims, kailangan meron silang nasusubo kaagad lalong lalo na kapag inabutan ng tanghalian or hapunan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

According to the DSWD chief, this initiative is in response to the whole-of-government approach directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Yan ang bilin ng ating pangulo, na hindi pwedeng operating in silo. Dito pa lang, pati yung research nila, nagagamit na natin sa disaster response,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Another partnership between the DSWD and DOST-FNRI is the implementation of the WALANG GUTOM 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP).

“Sila rin yung nagdevelop nung ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ na ginagamit namin sa Walang Gutom Program namin. Ibig sabihin, yung menu kung saan ang mahihirap nating kababayan na benepisyaryo na nagugutom, kapag pumunta sila doon sa accredited na retail store, yung food mix na kanilang mabibili ay base sa research ng FNRI hinggil sa ano bang tamang mga pagkain ang kinokonsumo ng ating mga kababayan—nutritious, delicious, affordable,” the DSWD chief explained.

The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is one of the new priority programs of the DSWD that will reduce the incidence of involuntary hunger experienced by low-income households by providing them access to monetary-based assistance in the form of an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
card, which will be loaded with food credits.

Beneficiaries of the FSP are required to purchase food products that are healthy and nutritious such as 50 percent carbohydrate-rich food like rice and bread; 30 percent protein-rich food such as chicken and pork; and 20 percent vegetables and fruits from partner-merchants and retailers.#