“Karong panahona, magtinabangay gyud ta [in this (COVID-19) time, we really need to help each other],” Mayor Constantino H. Reyes of the municipality of Ubay said during an interview about the LGU’s efforts to fight against COVID-19.
Reyes underscored how partnership has helped the municipality carry out its responsibility to its constituents during the community quarantine (CQ) period in response to COVID-19. Thru a 50:50 counterpart, the Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (PCC@USF) and the municipality aided a total of Php1.6 million-worth of toned carabao’s milk included in the latter’s relief packs to more than 20,000 households in Ubay. The milk was sourced from Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BODACO).
Guillerma Abay-abay, Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED) coordinator of PCC@USF, said this initiative would help secure the income of dairy farmers while at the same time help boost the immunity of people during the CQ.
“Ang kining gatas, immune-booster na no (Milk is an immune-booster),” Mayor Reyes said.
“Problema, og di nato paliton ang ilang gatas, maundang intawon pod ang ilang panginabuhian nga mao pu’y ilang gisaligan intawon sa ilang inadlaw-adlaw nga pagkaon, pang gasto, duna pa sila’y anak nga nangiskwela (The problem is if we don’t buy their milk, they won’t have a source of income where most of their daily needs depend on including financing for their children’s education),” he added.
Also included in the LGU’s relief pack are six kilograms of rice, six pieces of canned sardines, one dozen eggs, three packs of noodles, three sachets of milk, three sachets of powdered chocolate drink, and one whole piece of dressed chicken.
Although Bohol has no confirmed positive COVID-19 cases yet, the province was placed under CQ on March 16, 2020 by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 08. This restricts travels to and from Bohol, prohibits the operation of non-essential businesses and tourism sites, and directs people to stay at home for the time being.
