Sadanga, Mountain Province refuses food packs, donates it to less fortunate instead

Photo Courtesy || Gabino P. Ganggangan @ DSWD - CAR

Cordillera - The people of Sadanga, Mountain Province headed by the good mayor Mr. Gabino P. Ganggangan have shown great compassion and consideration when they decided to waived relief packs to less fortunate in other areas. 

"It is during these kinds of economic hardships such as "food shortages", hunger and famine that the "richer or better of" (kadangyans) among a clan or village are expected to aid their needy relatives by lending their surpluses", Mayor Ganggangan said in a statement. 

The mayor refused food packs from the national government to be given to those more needy urban poors in the cities and those less fortunate in other areas who can't sustain themselves.

Ganggangan explains that waiving relief packs does not mean no poor and needy families in their municipality however, its "built in" and homegrown or indigenous social structure, values, and practice of taking care of their respective relatives, kins, neighbors, or kailyan in distress will work to sustain the need of the people during hard times or economic crisis. 

He also assures that no family shall go hungry in the municipality should the crisis extend longer. 

"Should this crisis extend longer to the extent that our needy families really run out of their rice supplies, we shall mandate the kadangyans of every barangay to open up their rice granaries (agamangs) to sustain us through to the next harvest season," Ganggangan said.

On Monday (March 30, 2020), Mayor Ganggangan informed the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) that some relief food packs sent by the DSWD region are now available at the PDRRM office in Bontoc for lgu's that might be requesting.

He also instructed the MSWDO to relay their message that even if the lockdown will be extended, their municipality will not be availing of these food packs.