BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The city government of Butuan, through the City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWDD), continues to provide hot meals to villagers through its mobile kitchen. 

The CSWDD’s mobile kitchen recently reached out to some 4,000 villagers in the city who gathered at the capitol covered court in time for the payout for the Assistance to Individuals in Conflict Situations (AICS) beneficiaries.

This initiative gives locals opportunities to enjoy a free nutritious meal while listening to announcements and advocacy campaigns about the different programs and services of the city government. 

According to Golda Pocon, a CSWD officer, the mobile kitchen makes feeding programs more convenient and accessible. 

“This mobile kitchen is a motorized vehicle or tow-behind trailer equipped with kitchen facilities such as plumbing, hot water supply, mechanical refrigeration, cooking equipment, and dry goods storage used for the preparation and service of food and beverages,” explained Pocon.

“The locals from all walks of life enjoyed the free, nutritious hot meal offered by the CSWDD. We were very glad to witness that through this simple gesture of providing them a snack, they were appreciative of the government’s effort and expressed their hope that this mobile kitchen will reach more barangays. We also encouraged them to make backyard gardening a habit, so they will be able to save money from the financial assistance they received from the government,” elaborated Pocon.

Pocon highlighted that the government needs to create activities and services that will gain public interest. 

“We have to organize activities that are worth the time of the villagers and will have a great impact that will urge them to take action and support the government’s advocacy,” she said.

Further, Pocon stressed that the CSWDD will also strengthen its partnership with other agencies and partner stakeholders to get additional resources for the conduct of other meaningful outreach programs.

Mang Ramon, a 54-year-old carpenter and one of the beneficiaries, thanked the personnel of the CSWDD as he received the free hot meal while waiting for his turn to receive the AICS payout.

“At least we’re provided with a free meal to fill our empty stomachs. This is a big help already,” he said.

The Office of Congressional Representative Jose Aquino II of the 1st District of Agusan del Norte, together with Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada, also reiterated the call for public servants to exert effort in reaching out to the grassroots. 

It has been a strict directive of the local officials to not just provide food to eat but also ensure that it is nutritious. (JPG, PIA-Caraga, with a report from CSWDD-Butuan)

People from the different barangays of Butuan City queued towards the mobile kitchen that served hot meals at the capitol compound, where they were also waiting to receive their cash benefit under the Assistance to Individuals in Conflict Situations (AICS) program, spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWDD). Photo courtesy of CSWDD-Butuan.