COVID-19GovernanceHealthNews

Region 8 medical personnel to get free meals in the next 2 months

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced on Tuesday, May 11, that at least 2,000 medical front-liners in Eastern Visayas will be receiving three hot meals a day for two months as part of the government’s assistance for those fighting the pandemic.

Every day, approximately 6,000 packets of hot meals will be cooked and distributed to health workers in key places in the region. Each hot meal pack includes rice, a main dish, vegetables, a dessert, and beverages. According to the OCD, the cost of a pack prepared by local caterers ranges between PHP160 and PHP170.

The initiative is funded under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, and the first of its kind in the country as measure during the pandemic.

Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Baybay City, the entire first legislative district of Leyte province, and Northern Samar province are all receiving meal assistance.

The OCD launched the project on May 1 and will continue until June 30. Around 360,000 hot meals will be served to medical personnel during this period. The OCD intends to extend meal assistance services in response to requests from more local government units in the region.

Photo credit: OCD