MANILA – Like doing a rehearsal for its new role of distributing the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to the poorest of the poor households in the country, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since April, has been distributing Php 250-million worth of Family Food Packs (FFP) to distressed households in Metro Manila.
As early as April, the AFP through the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other local government units have distributed a total of 127,873 FFPs in Metro Manila from various sources.
This initiative of the AFP aims to provide 50,000 FFPs to indigent households in the National Capital Region with basic food assistance during the implementation of the community quarantine because of the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Each FFP includes 10 kilograms of rice, around 50 pieces of assorted canned goods, and 20 sachets of milk and coffee.
On May 8, the Vice President of ADB, Mr. Ahmead Saeed visited Forth Bonifacio to see for himself the Army’s Covid-19 relief operations and repacking of goods at the Army Headquarters Grandstand. He was later accompanied by Philippine Army Vice Commander Major General Reynaldo M. Aquino to Barangay Sta. Ana in Pateros to witness the actual distribution of the FFPs.
Gen. Aquino, in a statement posted in the Philippine Army Webpage said “We are grateful to our partners in the private sectors for making this initiative possible. For our part, we will make sure that the products of these initiatives will reach the intended beneficiaries without unnecessary delay.”
