MANILA — Families affected by the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu will continue to enjoy freshly cooked meals despite staying in temporary shelters, as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) deployed three additional mobile kitchens to various evacuation sites.
According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group, regional offices in Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas, and Western Visayas have dispatched their mobile kitchens to support DSWD Field Office 7 (Central Visayas). The move follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that affected residents receive sufficient food and care during recovery.
“Each region is provided with a mobile kitchen as part of the DSWD’s strengthened disaster response strategy. These food truck facilities were distributed to the field offices earlier this year,” Dumlao said.
Following the quake that hit Cebu’s northeastern areas on September 30, thousands of families have been displaced. To support their needs, the DSWD continues to distribute family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF), and hot meals.
Dumlao explained that serving freshly cooked meals helps prevent “FFP fatigue” among evacuees who have been relying on relief packs for extended periods.
“Providing hot meals ensures that affected families have access to nutritious food during this challenging time,” she added.
Currently, the DSWD-7 mobile kitchen has been operating in Bogo City since October 1, while the unit from Western Visayas arrived on Saturday and began meal preparations at the San Remigio Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, mobile kitchens from Calabarzon and Eastern Visayas are on their way to Cebu and are expected to become operational by Sunday or Monday.
In addition to the kitchen units, regional DSWD offices have also deployed disaster response teams to assist in ongoing relief and recovery efforts in coordination with DSWD-7.
(Source: Philippine News Agency)
