SOME 826 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) currently housed at Fort Bonifacion in Taguig City received food and non-food items from Kapampangans led by Governor Dennis Pineda.

The donation came after a number of LSIs asked for help from the three-month long lockdown as a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

On behalf of the LSIs, Major General Rowen Tolentino, Philippine Army chief-of-staff, accepted the donation that was handed over by Pineda and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Angelina Blanco in a simple ceremony held at the Philippine Army Wellness Center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Sunday, June 5.

The donation included cavans of rice, canned goods, drinking water, whole frozen chickens, and assorted dry goods to help assist the LSIs.

"Malaking bagay po ito para sa mga LSIs natin. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga Kapampangan sa pamumuno ni Governor Dennis 'Delta' Pineda, at least yung mga pangangailangan po nila ay natugunan," he said.

With great sympathy, Pineda shared that he was touched by the "helpless" situation of the LSIs, as he had seen on TV.

"Masaya po kami dahil kahit papaano makakatulong tayo sa mga kababayan natin. Alam naman natin hindi madali ang pinagdaanan nila at hindi rin madaling mahiwalay sa pamilya. Kaya nandito po tayo ngayon dala ang kakaunting tulong mula sa ating mga Cabalen," he said.

Blanco, meanwhile, said the activity coincided the observance of the month-long celebration of National Disaster Resiliency Month with the theme "Sama -samang Pagsulong Tungo sa Katatagan sa Gitna ng Bagong Normal."

"Wala man po tayong programa ngayon sa Pampanga regarding disaster preparedness or response, ito po ay isang magansang start ng celebration natin dahil nakatulong tayo sa mga taga-ibang probinsya na lubos na nangangailangan," she added.

For her part, Melo Jane Tural, one of the LSIs currently housed in the military facility, expressed her gratitude for the help extended to them.

"Maraming salamat po sa governor ng Pampanga, kahit hindi po kami taga- pampanga, inabutan niyo parin po kami ng tulong," she said. (PR)