Goducate Laguna distributes food packs and face shields

Goducate Laguna has distributed 878 food packs during this Covid-19 pandemic. Each pack contains 3 kg rice and some other groceries.

On March 16, the Philippines introduced its Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to try to limit the spread of Covid-19 by drastically restricting the movement of the population. The ECQ was originally to have ended on April 12, but has since been extended a couple of times in parts of the country. In Calabarzon, the administrative district which covers the province of Laguna, the ECQ has been extended to May 15.

The ECQ has caused loss of income, and also loss of jobs, for many people. Pastors are one group that is affected because when there are no physical Sunday services, offerings drop.

In the last week of March and the first two weeks of April, Camp Goducate Laguna distributed food packs to 383 households in different areas in Laguna, namely, Bay, Calauan and Los Banos. The food packs were also distributed to 301 senior citizens, 51 frontliners (village officials, policemen, and health workers), 60 people with disabilities in Puypuy Bay Laguna, and 83 pastors and life coaches in some parts of Calabarzon.

Apart from the food packs, Goducate also distributed pamphlets on the benefits of moringa (malunggay) and how to make moringa powder. Moringa oleifera is a plant widely grown in the Philippines, and its leaves are known to contain many nutrients. Teaching about its health value and how to use it is a program which is part of Goducate’s Health Information Drive. Moringa could be a good alternative source of nutrients during this ECQ because panic buying could mean that vitamins and nutritional supplements are quickly sold out.

Helping out with the distribution of food packs were barangay (village) health workers and officials, members of the police force, pastors, and Goducate scholars.

This food-distribution project was supported by the Meek and Lowly Trust (Singapore), which will also be supporting the distribution of face shields to the Calabarzon area.

*Our guest writer is Mae Diaz Luceno, staff member in Goducate Laguna.