Cabanatuan City barangay officials and workers distribute food assistance. Photo by Armand Galang
CABANATUAN CITY – The city government, headed by Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara, waged on Wednesday another wave of food assistance to residents as the nation continued to battle the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The food pack, containing 10-kilo bag of rice, canned goods and face shields, raised to 70 kilos the staple rationed by the city government to each of some 120,000 families here on top of whole dressed chicken, vegetables, and grocery items since the start of lockdown.
This city remains under modified general community quarantine like the other parts of Central Luzon.
Sangguniang panlungsod presiding officer Vice Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara said the food assistance was to keep people in the city’s 89 villages in good state as quarantine restrictions stay.
Earlier, 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara also distributed 20 kilos (in two tranches) of rice to every household within the district comprising Palayan City, Cabanatuan City, Gabaldon, Laur, Bongabon, Gen. Natividad, and Santa Rosa through her family’s Kalinga sa Distrito.
To support farmers who lost their market due to the pandemic, the Vergara family bought squash produce from nearby towns and added them to their food packs with two more whole chicken each household.
The congresswoman also continued her Alagang Ina program that gives away bags of basic baby needs to all 7-9 months pregnant within the third district.
Meanwhile, the vice mayor said the city government has been conducting massive rapid antibody testing where additional ten-kilo bag of rice is given to participants.
“We want to have our economy recover because we are the one to jumpstart the economy of Nueva Ecija,” he said.
The testing has been to extended to all employees of the Department of Education, private companies here, and residents of municipalities within the province’s third district. Reactive patients are being swabbed on the spot.
He said the city government holds testing in different municipalities since it stands as the center of trade and commerce.
“Nagpupuntahan sila sa atin kasi nandito ang banko, ang mga negosyo,” he stressed. “Kailang proteksiyunan natin yung ating mga kalungsod at ganun din naman yung mga nagpupunta sa atin.“
