Ilonggos need a food bank

By Alex P. Vidal

 

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”—George Bernard Shaw

 

LOCAL government units must learn to use their own initiatives and resources and should not rely too much on the national government for whatever pandemic subsidy and other freebies for their “starving” folks.

We suggest to the Iloilo City Council to pass an ordinance establishing a food bank in Iloilo City now that health authorities fear the pandemic will prolong before a vaccine can be discovered (no prejudice to Russia’s Sputnik V).

To ensure that the Ilonggos won’t be inconvenienced when essential places like the public markets and the fishing port are locked down like what happened recently, the city government should create their own food bank in times of public health emergencies and disasters.

This idea is inspired by the “Food Bank Ordinance of Cebu City” approved during the City Council’s regular session last August 12, 2020.

According to Councilor Alvin Dizon, proponent of the ordinance, “In times of disaster and public health emergency, addressing the fundamental need for safe, adequate and nutritious food of the Cebuanos particularly the marginalized communities and vulnerable groups such as the elderly, PWDs, children and informal settlers, should be a top priority of the local government and has to be urgently met, not as a gesture of charity, but as a matter of right.”

Once the ordinance has been passed, the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) would manage the food bank.

Ilonggos will have no problem maintaining a food bank as we have plenty of sources plus easy access to agricultural products and other farms products to be supplied by the municipalities in Iloilo Province.

 

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The Cebu City version, it was learned, shall adopt both the “front line” model which is giving out food directly to the poor and hungry and the “warehouse” model which is supplying food to intermediaries like community kitchens and other frontline organizations who are doing hunger-relief assistance in times of public health emergencies and disasters.

Section 4 of the Cebu City ordinance reportedly requires the DSWS to develop “dynamic and multisectoral food distribution plans” for potential scenarios in a public health emergency and disaster that will ensure that people in marginalized and disadvantaged communities will get food for the duration of the crisis.

Such response plans must be adaptable and science-driven such as food supply-chain analysis; developing a food distribution network (supply points, processing and packaging facilities, and points of delivery) based on census tract and socio-geographical studies on the city’s vulnerable communities, and using the power of algorithms to create an emergency supply chain network that is dynamic, efficient, and responsive to the actual and/or anticipated needs of the population, among others.

These plans shall be revisited and updated every year.

Section 5 reads: “The Cebu City government shall partner with private companies, food manufacturers, and dining establishments to facilitate the cycle of food donation. All donations have to strictly comply with the requirements set forth under Republic Act No.10611 or The Food Safety Act of 2013 and other existing pertinent laws,” Section 5 reads.

 

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To ensure that donated food items are safe for human consumption, the DSWS, in coordination with the City Health Office, shall conduct thorough evaluation of food items gathered from donors and partners before stocking and distribution to the beneficiaries.

Section 7 provides that to recognize and encourage private sector participation in terms of donation of food merchandise to ensure sustainability of food supplies in the food bank, donors may be granted tax incentives in accordance with law.

DSWS shall further establish other forms of incentive system to recognize donors and all partners in the implementation of the program.

Section 8 states that the reselling of donated food merchandise is strictly prohibited.

The following fines shall be imposed: P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 and/or imprisonment not more than one month at the discretion of the court for the third offense.

Section 10 reads, “to ensure that all donations are properly accounted for, the DSWS shall prepare an itemized listing of all donations and list of beneficiaries who receive the donated food merchandise. This will rationalize the inventory report that shall be prepared to further promote transparency. The list shall be regularly submitted to the Cebu City Council, Office of the Mayor and post the same at the official website of the Cebu City government.”

Upon approval of the ordinance, a Food Bank Governing Board shall be created which comprises of the duly authorized representative of the Mayor as chairperson; Head, Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) as vice-chairperson; and two members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod from each legislative district, Head, City Health Department, Head, General Services Office (GSO), and two representatives from the private sector to be appointed by the Mayor as members.

They will be responsible for driving forward the strategic direction of the food bank and ensuring viability and sustainability of its operation.

“There is hereby appropriated the initial amount of Three Million Pesos (3,000,000) for this program and the activities to be undertaken therein to establish and ensure the full operation of the food bank,” Section 13 provides.

The DSWS is tasked to implement the provisions of the ordinance and formulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations.

 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)