The community-run kitchens of the “Kusinang Bayan” program are feeding the residents of Sitio San Roque in Quezon City during the reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby areas which affected livelihoods and the ability of Filipino households to purchase food.
A civilian-led initiative, the community kitchen program “Kusinang Bayan” is touted as a healthier alternative to conventional relief operations which typically distribute packs of instant noodles and canned goods.
In a Facebook post, the Save San Roque Alliance reported that 6,000 families in Sitio San Roque experienced the adverse effects of the strict restrictions imposed to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 disease, leading to the community kitchen program’s establishment last year.
To support the low-income families of the community, the alliance of individuals in solidarity with the urban poor residents of Sitio San Roque has banded together to reopen “Kusinang Bayan” on April 1, 2021.
Starting with three kitchen stations on its first day, the recently reopened “Kusinang Bayan” serves nutritious meals to residents in need as the ECQ continues in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
“Nakakatugon sa pangangailangan ng mga residente ‘yung Kusinang Bayan dahil hindi na nila kailangang bumili ng pagkain sa araw-araw. Sa pagbubukas muli ng programa, sana mahikayat din namin ‘yung gobyerno na makapagbigay ng suporta sa amin, hindi lang sa San Roque pero sa iba pang communities“, said San Roque community leader Marlyn Malubay.
Hot meals cooked by the volunteers of “Kusinang Bayan” are composed of fresh vegetables and meats sourced from the local market in Sitio San Roque and other nearby markets, thus supporting the area’s local vendors and their families.
With still limited funds to date, “Kusinang Bayan” is not yet ready to provide complete meals served with rice to the residents. The community of Sitio San Roque is calling for donations to help sustain the program.
The donations will fund the community-initiated relief efforts aimed to empower and aid low-income families during this difficult period.
For those who are willing to help fund “Kusinang Bayan”, donations may be channeled through the following accounts:
BDO: Rafael Vicente Dimalanta / 0107 1003 4601
GCash: Margarete Kaye Peralta / 0945 309 0603
Donors may also help out by purchasing donation vouchers available in the e-commerce platform Lazada through this link.
Community kitchen initiatives that have helped bring warm and healthy meals to disaster victims include the Art Relief Mobile Kitchen and the Health 101 Restoreant in Baguio that was turned into a community kitchen for frontliners while Luzon was placed under ECQ to stop the spread of coronavirus disease.
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