The municipalities of Naawan and Lagonglong in Misamis Oriental are two of the identified local government units piloted to implement the Community Food Bank strategy, a social technology project introduced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Nestor Ramos, Regional Director of the DSWD Field Office 10, says that the Community Food Bank aims to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of affected families in disaster-stricken communities, such those in Naawan and Lagonglong, by mitigating hunger within 72 hours while outside help is not yet available from the regional, national, and humanitarian agencies.

“It is a strategy that establishes facilities within communities which stores locally produced food items to ensure that food can easily be accessed, and can be easily distributed to affected families during emergency situation,” Ramos explains.

He also added that it develops the capacities of the local government units in the production of processed food items with longer shelf life utilizing locally produced raw materials and establishes food bank as community food storage spaces for the locally produced food items.

“It establishes a mechanism for the set-up and operationalization of the food bank to ensure timely distribution of food assistance to disaster affected families within seventy-two (72) hours during onset of emergencies,” Ramos says.

According to Dr. Delia Maravillosa of the Social Technology Unit of the DSWD Field Office 10, the two municipalities are set to implement the Community Food Bank with the guidance and technical assistance from the Department, to make sure that all issues faced during its implementation are documented and appropriate resolutions are made. “The impact of this social technology project shall be documented so that when the implementation is complete, it shall be determined if this can be replicated by other local government units.”