Introduction
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic due to exponential increase of the number of cases in more than 100 countries. On March 16, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amid the threats posed by COVID-19. The “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ) which is effectively a lockdown affected the citizens especially the majority poor where food is urgently needed.
With financial support from CREST - RM 13,029.42, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) through its Development Ministries was able to provide food packs to 300 poor families in 3 villages in Iloilo City: Sto. Rosario-Duran, Veterans Village, Sambag/Jaro and in Buray, Municipality of Oton that is outside of Iloilo City. They are provided with 5kilos rice, 2cans sardines, 1 small pack miswa, and ½ kilo dried fish. This assistance helped with the food needs of the family during the ECQ and they are so thankful to CREST.
Packing at the CPBC national office with Rev. Samuel Talha, CPBC President and Ms Henna Caipang, Director of Development Ministries
Villages and no. of families provided with food packs and dates of distribution:
Sto. Rosario-Duran, Iloilo City – 50 families – May 26, 2020
Veterans Village, Iloilo City – 50 families – May 27, 2020
Sambag/Jaro, Iloilo City – 100 families – May 21 & May 29, 2020
Buray, Municipallity of Oton, Iloilo – 100 families – May 25, 2020
Distribution of food packs in Barangay Veterans Village, an urban poor community in Iloilo City with Rev. Dr. Jerson Narciso, CPBC General Secretarance Report