AFP deploys mobile kitchen in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed mobile kitchen in Central Visayas that provides meal to individuals displaced by Typhoon Odette.

The mobile kitchen, which was personally requested by the AFP-Visayas Command (Viscom) chief from the national headquarters,  catered at least 1,500 persons in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City last Wednesday.

"Dunay 1,500 beneficiaries na estimated nato for lunch, naa say karong sa dinner 1,500," said Captain Tere Cansancio, chief information officer of Viscom.

The mobile kitchen arrived in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu City, on December 24. A day after, the Viscom then began offering free meals to the public in the barangays of San Roque, Ermita and Pasil, all in Cebu City on December 27.

Last December 25 and 27, there were also 1,500 individuals catered, respectively both for lunch and dinner.

"Hopefully naa pa tay mo-pledge pa kay ang funds man gud atong sa 27 ug 29, karon, AFP fund ta so gihatagan ta og kwarta para pundo ani ug naa tay maprepara," said Cansancio.

The beneficiaries were identified through the Task Force Cebu from the areas most affected by the typhoon and those who were having a hard time affording a proper meal.

Currently, Cansancio is calling on those individuals who want to donate funds for the mobile kitchen for them to continue providing meals to the victims of the typhoon.

The AFP mobile kitchen has been deployed to the areas hit by calamities. At the height of the pandemic, it was also deployed in the National Capital Region.

"So karon kay grabe man ta ka apektado sa Typhoon Odette maong naa sya diri karon," said Cansancio.

Toledo and Bohol

Meanwhile, the Asian Shipping Corp. and Asian Slipway Corp. have donated P500,000 in assistance to Toledo City.

The company’s manager for the Visayas and Mindanao, Toledo City Councilor Ricardo “Kuya Nick” Pepito, represented its president, Mr. Robinson K. Sy, in handing over the donation last Wednesday.

Toledo City Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Perales, Vice Mayor Jay Sigue and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Mae Tacandong received the assistance witnessed by Pepito’s colleagues in the city council.

Perales and Tacandong said the donation will be used in the purchase of additional sacks of rice to be distributed to typhoon victims.

On the other hand, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap also thanked Mr. Sy for sending the LCT Cristina of Asian Shipping Corp.

Yap said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy have been also helping in sending the relief goods in 65 island barangays in Bohol.

Pepito said their barge was used for free including its fuel in transporting the relief goods for ten days.

“Bisan pa man og usa usab sa biktima sa bagyong Odette si Asian Shipping Corp. daku kaayo og gikatabang sa atong mga kaigsoonang Sugbuanon, halos 40 ka barko ni Asian Shipping usab ang grounded sa Bohol ug Surigao, halos P400 million ang loss of income, recovery cost, repair costs and dry-docking costs apan naa kanunay mitabang kanato,” said Pepito. —  Gregg M. Rubio, GMR (FREEMAN)