65-year-old woman staves off hunger with water after food runs out

A 65-year-old woman from Calamba, Laguna just had water to drink because the food pack she received from local authorities ran out.

According to a 24 Oras report by John Consulta on Thursday, Luzviminda and her three children and three grandchildren have resorted to drinking water when they feel the pangs of hunger.

“Tubig na lang po para mabusog kami. Para naman medyo tumagal-tagal ang aming buhay sa quarantine ngayon,” she said.

“Nasunod kami sa gobyerno tapos ito nga, walang pagkain. Bigas lang, okay na. Kahit ilugaw lang namin, konting asin, okay na ‘yon. May laman ang bituka namin.”

Several other residents left empty pots outside their houses to show barangay officials that they had run out of food.

Among them is Gilbert Atienza, a tricycle driver who lives with his pregnant wife and elderly mother.

His driver’s license was confiscated after he tried to continue working despite the shutdown of mass public transport as part of the enhanced community quarantine.

“Kasya po ba ang tatlong kilo sa isang buwan? Paano naman po ‘yung susunod pang mga araw?” he lamented.

“Hindi naman po kami mamamatay sa COVID e. Mamamatay kami sa gutom,” Atienza added.

Authorities explained that they hand out food packs to the poorest families first but assured their constituents they will all receive aid.

“Pag-unawa na lang po sa aming mga kababayan na we are doing the best that we can. Ginagawa po namin ang makakaya namin sa resources at panauhin na meron kami at hindi po kami natigil sa pamimigay na ‘yan,” an official said. -- Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News