“Food for Work” Program: mobilizing communities towards fast recovery

Participants of the "Food for Work" Program work together for the fast rehabilitation of their community.

With the devastation caused by Typhoon Glenda, barangay officials sought the assistance of Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez in rehabilitating various infrastructures in their barangays. Congressman Gonzalez, on the other hand, also noticed the situation of marginalized fishermen displaced of their fishing livelihood due to the prevailing Southwest monsoon or the Hanging Habagat that may last for weeks.

To provide priority assistance to the coastal areas, Congressman Gonzalez implemented the “Food for Work” program. Food packs were given to the residents in exchange for their service in rehabilitating barangay infrastructures.

During his time as Governor of Albay, the province had a fast recovery from the devastation brought by Typhoon Reming using the same scheme. At that time, communities were mobilized through “Food for Work”.

Congressman Gonzalez, who is known for his experience in rehabilitation strategies, implemented the “Food for Work” program as another hitting-two-birds-with-one-bullet strategy to facilitate the rehabilitation while providing assistance to the marginalized people.