Sagbayan, Bohol — “Daghang Salamat!” or “Thank You!” written on used tarpaulins and sacks lined the streets of this municipality during the massive food distribution conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), World Food Programme (WFP), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the province of Bohol over the weekend.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman was pleased to see the words of gratitude of the Boholanos saying “ we are just inspired to continue with our work.”
The show of gratitude came two weeks after signages bearing “we need food and water” side by side with “need help” were plastered all over Bohol after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on October 15 shook the province. The quake destroyed bridges and roads, toppled houses, closed businesses, and turned churches to rubbles.
There was a great demand for food, water and temporary shelter to which the DSWD immediately addressed through the continued relief distribution.
To ensure that the food needs of the affected families are still addressed on time, the DSWD, WFP and AusAID distributed more than 50,000 relief packs in hardest-hit towns in the province. The relief packs, good for 15 days, contain 20 kilos of rice, 10 cans of sardines, 10 cans of beef loaf, 10 pieces of noodles, 10 sachets of chocolate drink, and 10 sachets of coffee.
Secretary Soliman explained that the families who received the two-week relief packs, considered to be the most vulnerable, are those whose house is partially or totally damaged, who stays in the evacuation center or camping outside their house, and/or has a female head or with members who are with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant or lactating mothers.
The Secretary further explained that the objective of the distribution of the bigger relief packs is to allay the fears of the victims on where to get their next food.
“Rest assured that we will continue to provide food packs until such time that your situation will normalize,” she said during her short message to the crowd in Sagbayan.
“Nagpasalamat gyud mi nga na atiman among kaon sa inadlaw pinaagi sa hinabang among nadawat mintras nangita mi ug asa mi maka tukod balik ug payag (I am thankful for the relief goods while we continue to look for a place where we can put up another house),” said Anecita Rufino, 41, and a mother of five children.
For some, they reciprocate the help given them by volunteering to help in anyway they can.
“Mueskwela nako inag abli sa klase bisan na-a sa tent ok ra. Mutabang pud ko ug limpyo sa among eskwelahan” (I’m going back to school even if it will just be in a tent. I would probably help in the cleaning of our school), “ 10-year old Chinchin Matutis said. ###
