Free meals from McDonald’s, through the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), brought cheer to staff and volunteers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amid the COVID-19 crisis that the country is facing right now.

DSWD thanked McDonald’s for providing meals to its DSWD Central Office and Field Office III skeletal personnel who have been working at the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) to assist families and individuals in crisis as well as the volunteers helping in the repacking of family food packs.

Irene Malong, CIU Division Chief said,  “I appreciate the gestures of McDonalds and felt their concern for us frontliners by means of giving us free food.Unexpected and much appreciated.”

Rizaline Sta. Ines, OIC Division Chief of DRMB also expressed her appreciation, “Maraming salamat po Mcdonald’s Philippines sa tuloy tuloy na pagtulong sa aming mga frontline workers ng DSWD at mga kapwa natin Pilipino. Ipagpatuloy nating gawin ang lahat para matugunan ang pangangailangan at malagpasan ang krisis na ating kinakaharap.”

DSWD’s CIU delivers the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which serves as an immediate response or a social safety net to support the recovery of families and individuals from unexpected crisis, such as illness or death of a family member, natural and human-induced emergencies, and other critical incidents. Under AICS, DSWD provides medical, transportation, and burial assistance to persons or families in crisis situations, especially those who are poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals.  To date, CIUs in DSWD-Field Offices have released more than P36 million worth of assistance, through AICS, to clients nationwide during the quarantine period. DRMB, on the other hand, is focused on disaster management and response.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines (RMHC) has been a long-time partner of DSWD in its delivery of social welfare and development programs and services to vulnerable sectors. It has been providing food support to the Department’s staff and volunteers as they assist and deliver aid to families and individuals affected by various disasters and emergencies.

DSWD recognizes the big role of its partners in the fulfillment of its mandate to the Filipino people. Apart from McDonald’s, the Department likewise thanked its other partners for their solid support and invaluable assistance to DSWD, especially during this challenging time. -30-