DSWD launches ready-to-eat food packs

MANILA, Philippines — To ensure food security in times of disasters, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has come up with ready-to-eat-food (RTEF) packs that will be distributed to calamity victims.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and Disaster Response Management Group head Irene Dumlao said the RTEF contains nutritious pre-cooked meals.

The food packs are part of the DSWD’s relief items, which will be distributed to affected families within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of a disaster.

The DSWD collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute to create ready-to-eat meals to fill the gap when traditional cooking facilities are limited or unavailable in disaster-affected areas, Dumlao said.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian posted on X that the RTEF packs are compliant with Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Act, the Local Government Code of 1991 and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Law.

Gatchalian said the RTEF is “a self-contained Halal meal, individually packed, readily consumable without cooking requirements.”

He said all food products inside the packs are “proudly made by Filipino companies.”

Each RTEF pack contains five cans of tuna paella, two cans of chicken pastil, giniling or ground pork, two packs of arroz caldo, three packs of champorado, two pieces of high energy biscuit and a chocolate bar.