By Brian Campued
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to launch its ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs by 2025, ensuring food supply on the onset of calamities and boosting the government’s efforts in responding to disasters.
In a media forum at the DSWD Central Office on Thursday, Special Assistant to the Secretary for Special Projects Maria Isabel Lanada said they will distribute and pre-position the RTEF boxes across seaports and disaster-stricken areas in the country.
This is to complement the existing relief resources of the DSWD, such as the provision of family food packs.
Each RTEF box contains five cans of tuna paella; two cans of chicken pastel and giniling; two packs of arroz caldo; three packs of champorado; two pieces of high energy biscuit; one piece of chocolate complementary food; and five pieces of sporks (spoon and fork combined).
The contents of the RTEF boxes were formulated with the help of the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) and nutritionally analyzed by the DOST – Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI).
Various local nutritionists and dieticians also provided technical assistance to ensure the quality of the contents of the products.
“Basically, ang concept ng RTEF ay bago dumating ang disaster, may ready-to-eat food na para sa mga apektado nating kababayan. Hindi na sila makara[ra]nas ng gutom… and then pagkatapos ng within 24-48 hours, nando’n na FFPs natin na mas malaki,” Lanada said.
“Good for a five-member family ito… ’yong complementary food din po natin, this is for older infants and young children. Though hindi natin alam kung lahat ba ng pamilya ay may baby, nilagay na rin po natin sa bawat family food pack dahil ang importante may makakain po ’yong mga meron,” the DSWD official added.
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