In response to the recent surge in the Covid-19 cases and the rise of the Omicron variant, the Department of Agriculture, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Special Concerns (OUSC), distributed 1,000 health kits to its frontline personnel, particularly elderly and differently-abled persons, and those with comorbidities on January 12-28, 2022.
Undersecretary for Special Concerns Waldo Carpio said that the cases within Metro Manila and within DA have reached an all-time high, thus, it is necessary that the frontline personnel, especially the elderlies, differently-abled persons, and those with comorbidities, are equipped and protected from the dreaded virus.
“We need to equip and protect our manpower in order to keep the machineries of the Department up and running and that they are able to deliver the much-needed services to our farmers and fisherfolk. We need to keep them secured from the risks of Covid-19,” said Undersecretary Carpio.
Personnel recipients of the health kits, including those working at DA and its attached agencies and staff bureaus, expressed their deep gratitude to the OUSC.
“Maraming salamat kay Usec. Carpio at hindi niya kami nakalimutan lalo na ngayong [panahon ng] krisis. Malaking tulong itong health kits lalo sa aming mga may edad na,” said an elderly recipient.
Among the DA agencies that received the kits were: DA-Central Office, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), National Tobacco Administration (NTA), Agriculture Credit Policy Council (ACPC), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
The health kits included face masks, face shields, alcohol with atomizer, wet wipes, and vitamins. (### from OUSC)
