Brian Poe, FPJ Panday Bayanihan give 2,000 food packs to flood victims

Brian Poe distributes relief packs to families in Brgy. Bahay Toro, Quezon City on August 2, 2024. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Senator Grace Poe and FPJ Panday Bayanihan Foundation has distributed relief packs to 2,000 families in Metro Manila and Bulacan who were distressed by the effects of Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and strong southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat.

The food packs, which included five kilos of rice, three cans of beef loaf, three cans of corned beef, four packs of instant noodles, and six twin-packs of instant coffee, were distributed on separate occasions.

In Parañaque City, FPJ Panday Bayanihan Chairman Brian Poe, who also serves as chief of staff of Sen. Grace Poe, led the distribution of aid to 300 beneficiaries in Barangays San Dionisio, San Isidro, Don Galo, La Huerta, Sto. Nino, Tambo, and Vitalez last July 30.

Two days later (August 1), some 500 families from Barangay 174 in Caloocan City received the food packs during a program also attended by Brian Poe at the Paulino compound basketball court in Camarin.

READ: Poe wants probe into DPWH’s underutilized flood-control budget

The following day, Brian Poe traveled to Bulacan to lead the aid distribution to 100 people at the San Francisco Square in Malolos City. The beneficiaries were Barangays Sto. Rosario and San Juan. Local group Bucket of Life likewise gave away around 100 food packs to affected residents.

Also on August 2, Panday Bayanihan Foundation, which name was derived from the popular movie series “Ang Panday” of Sen. Grace Poe’s father, the late King of Philippine Movie Fernando Poe Jr., likewise handed out relief packs to 1,000 residents of Barangays Masambong and Bahay Toro in Quezon City.

READ: Poe: Agencies involved in flood control to face scrutiny

Panday Bayanihan Foundation, which aims to build the spirit of bayanihan or volunteerism among Filipinos, is a non-government organization established in 2013 when Severe Tropical Storm Maring affected 2.5 million people and displaced 800,000 residents.

Days after the onslaught of Carina and the boosted southwest monsoon, Sen. Grace Poe and her son Brian, immediately mobilized volunteers and set up soup kitchen in Tondo, Manila, where warm bowls of lugaw (porridge) were served to around 1,500 flood-stricken residents.

“Nakakalungkot man na patuloy pa rin tayong nakakaranas ng ganitong klaseng pagsubok, pero nakakataba ng puso na nariyan pa rin ang ating mga kababayan na walang sawang nagbibigay ng tulong,” said Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance.