The Philippine Air Force (PAF) recently purchased 13 tons of assorted vegetables from La Trinidad as a donation to low-income families in Manila who may have difficulties in accessing nutritious food during the nationwide lockdown.
According to Air Force Captain Edward Licnachan, the carrots, cabbages, beans and potatoes that they bought from the La Trinidad Trading Post would be distributed to families who lost their homes to recent fire incidents in Metro Manila.
This includes Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, which counts seventeen families affected by a fire that razed its residential area back in February.
“Nabuo ang idea noong nanggaling ako sa Ifugao at nag-uwi ako sa Manila ng gulay tapos nakita pa namin mga post na nagtatapon ng gulay ang mga farmer kasi nabubulok kaya naisip namin na tulungan ang farmers at the same time, makatulong sa mga mamamayan sa Manila,” said Licnachan, who also happens to hail from the town of Mayaoyao in Ifugao.
The vegetables purchased by the Air Force will also be distributed to low-income communities in Binondo and Baseco, Tondo. Should there be remaining vegetables, Licnachan said that the Air Force would make donations to medical frontliners and hospital personnel as well.
The vegetables were transported to the Villamor Air Base on Apr. 15 where it was repacked—and in addition to the 13 tons that they initially purchased, farmers in Benguet have also made their own donation to Metro Manila residents.
The vegetables were transported to the Villamor Air Base on Apr. 15 where it was repacked. In addition to the 13 tons that they initially purchased, farmers in Benguet also pitched in by giving out free surplus vegetables for donation.
The money used to buy vegetables came from the PAF community relations fund and cash donations. Licnachan said that they might continue making trips especially if there are donors.
Header photo from Inquirer.net
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
