Eastern Samar news groups give food packs to 100 poor residents

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar –– Employees of the different news outfits in Eastern Samar—both private and government-run media—have continued a program that provides aid to the poor and marginalized.

The Borongan City Press Club this year chose to help residents of the remote village of Siha in Borongan and gave food packs to at least 100 individuals.

Penelope Pomida, president of the Borongan City Press Club, told the Inquirer that even if its budget failed to accommodate the 300 households of Siha, the organization was still happy to serve some residents.

“The group believes that despite their jobs to give news and information to Eastern Samareños, they also need to fulfill the social responsibility to help others,” she said.

The group had its first outreach program in 2015.

One of the group’s most remarkable programs was on January 11, 2020, when they went to the Oras Town Sub-Provincial Jail and gave grocery and some personal essentials to the inmates.

Pomida said seeing prisoners provides members of the press a new outlook on life.

During the rainy seasons of 2016 to 2017, rather than just reporting damage brought by the massive flooding in areas, the group raised funds to give new school supplies to Alternative Learning students and other schools with hygiene kits and free haircuts to the children.

Pomida said the press club has been like a family.

“We were not like the others who fought with each other just to be the first when the news breaks,” she said. According to Pomida, right after their outreach program in Siha village, they were already planning for another outreach program next month within the city of Borongan.

Some of the members of the media club are Radyo Pilipinas, Philippine Information Agency, RVFM, Radyo Natin, Eastern Samar News Service, and the Provincial Government Media.

LZB