The provincial government of Northern Samar has been preparing food packs for families in Catarman, its capital town, affected by enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

In a social media post on Monday, provincial social welfare and development office (PSWDO) head Jenny Darish said they are currently repacking 14,814 family packs for distribution in 23 villages starting this week.

These areas are Airport Village, Acacia, Bangkerohan, Baybay, Calachuchi, Cawayan, Casoy, Dalakit, Ipil-Ipil, Jose Abad Santos, Jose P. Rizal, Lapu-lapu, Macagtas, Mabolo, Molave, Narra, Sampaguita, Santol, Talisay, UEP (University of Eastern Philippine) Zone 1, UEP Zone 2, UEP Zone 3, and Yakal.

The local government of Catarman placed these communities under ECQ from Oct.15 to 30 due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

To date, the town has confirmed a total of 129 cases, including 55 recoveries and one death.

“Our encoding team has been working overtime in preparing (a) material distribution sheet based on the verified masterlist compiled and validated by the municipal social welfare and development office of Catarman,” she said.

Each family will receive a food pack containing 10 kilograms of rice, three cans each of corned beef and sardines, one pack of noodles, and 500 grams each of chayote or eggplant and mung beans.

The vegetables were sourced from local farmers in the province through the Kadiwa ni Ani and Kita program of the Department of Agriculture.

“This was the advice of Governor Edwin Ongchuan to buy the harvests of our local farmers. With this, we will not only help our farmers sell their products, but also abide with the call of the Department of Health (DOH) to have healthy consumption in households amid the pandemic,” Darish said.

On March 23, the DOH announced the first Covid-19 patient in Eastern Visayas –a 51-year-old woman from Catarman who recently traveled to Japan and Metro Manila. The patient recovered after two weeks.

So far, the province has confirmed a total of 342 cases, including 152 recoveries and two deaths. (PNA)