The spirit of bayanihan came alive as a local bakery in Cuenca, Batangas worked hand-in-hand with the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc. (PAFMIL) and Bakers PH to distribute thousands of high-protein bakery products in calamity-stricken areas in the province.
The town is also among the hardest hit communities after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine in late October.
Luis Chavez—founder of Luis Bakery—shared that they immediately distributed high-protein pandesal and ube nutri-bun on the second day of heavy rains to ensure that all evacuees, including those outside of evacuation centers, have enough food supply.
He expressed his gratitude to PAFMIL’s Executive Director Ric Pinca and Bakers PH owner Ding Borja for promptly donating bags of flour that were used to produce healthy bread.
Said products were “baked softer and protein-enriched” to best complement the hot meals served by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)’s mobile kitchens, he said.
He underscored it was “a good food to the locals, who lacked access to nutritious food at the height of the continuous heavy rains and strong winds.”
Among the towns that were supplied with baked products include Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Batangas City, Balete, Bauan, Calatagan, Cuenca, Ibaan, Laurel, Lemery, Lipa City, San Jose, San Luis, San Nicolas, Taal, and Tanauan City.
Chavez said their strategic location made logistics easier as many towns have non-passable roads due to heavy flooding and landslide incidents, according to him.
He also stressed that “healthy bread and clean water supply is the best aid in times of calamities due to its convenience in production and distribution.”