Food is an essential part of life. Everyone should have enough food in whatever situation they find themselves in. Recently, the Philippines has been suffering from one natural disaster after another. Making sure that people are abtik (energetic) and naa’y kaon (well-fed) during disasters is one way to lessen its effects on them; this is the underlying concept that drives the ABTIC-CAON Initiative of the Rotaract Club of San Francisco. What exactly is this project, and how does it intend to achieve its goal?
The ABTIC-CAON Initiative stands for Actions Brought in Time for Individuals and Communities, a Community-based Approach Operation for Nation-building. It acts like a mobile kitchen during disasters minus the kitchen, but serving hot meals.
When disasters struck the country, Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of San Francisco were on the ground offering immediate relief through hot meals and water. They also worked with other organizations to help them provide nutrition services to restore health, save lives, and build resilience in communities.
In all major disasters, they have been actively working as immediate relief providers through hot meals and water together with other organizations to help them provide nutrition services,.and track stranded people that need to be rescued. By providing immediate and timely assistance to the people in evacuation centers or shelters, they can lessen the probability of disease occurrences caused by insufficient or poor food intake. Through providing other basic necessities, they can alleviate the suffering these people go through during times of calamity.
This project was also launched and demonstrated in partnership with 1502 Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion to ensure that all Rotaractors and volunteers are equipped for operations, especially during disasters. The aim is to give people a sense of hope by helping them understand that they can overcome difficulties by cooperating with each other and being prepared. The feeding operation is not only limited to those affected by natural disasters, but also to rescuers and volunteers. It is the rotaractors’ way of assisting the country in becoming more unified during calamities by providing solutions on how they can help each other, particularly those affected by calamities.
To date, this initiative has been active since its launch, and thankfully, only one typhoon has passed. For this project, they have fed over 3,000 victims of Typhoon Odette in Surigao City and Agusan del Sur.
This project was chaired by Rtr. Rex Belli Peji, Director for Community Services and Rtr. Clarice Valero, supported by all the members of Rotaract Club of San Francisco and the Rotary Club of San Francisco of District 3860.
The Rotaractors believe that what they do is a constant contribution to nation-building. They strive to work as one and help the community by bringing them relief in times of need. Over the years, they have been helping their countrymen and communities devastated by calamities through providing relief goods and donations from their network and partners. By acting for the community first, they are enabling themselves to help the nation. Thus, it is their actions that boost confidence and further invigorate the all-round development of people and communities to better the nation for all Filipinos.
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