The Office of MP Atty.Laisa Alamia led the distribution of Ramadhan packages for 655 families in Brgy. Semut, Akbar, Basilan last Thursday, May 6. Every package contained five kilograms of rice, one kilogram of sugar, one kilogram of flour, one pack of native coffee, and assorted vegetables.

The vegetables were sourced from local women farmers, who have been struggling to make ends meet as the number of market-goers dropped due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.“Maraming salamat sa pagbili nyo ng gulay namin, ma’am,” Cheryl Salinas said during an interview. “Nahihirapan kasi kaming ibenta ngayon ang mga gulay kasi konti lang ang bumibili sa palengke, dahil na rin siguro sa Covid.”

Salinas is from Limook, Lamitan City, and is one of many vegetable farmers from whom the Office sourced the vegetables that were included in the Ramadan package.

Volunteers from the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, Barangay Health Workers, Sangguniang Kabataan, and the local government unit of Brgy.Semut volunteered to facilitate the Ramadhan Package distribution which started at 6:00 in the morning. This was to ensure that all families have already received their packages before noon since both the volunteers and beneficiaries were observing the fast for the Holy Month.