Iloilo city: This highly urbanized city is preparing to revive the community kitchen initiative to aid the most vulnerable sectors amid surging fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis. In an interview Tuesday, General Services Office head and Crisis Management Council executive director Neil Ravena said they will conduct a simulation exercise in Barangay Boulevard and Barangay Calaparan so they can effectively respond when the poorest of the poor can no longer afford to buy food.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ravena mentioned that a pilot test will be conducted to ensure an automatic response in worst-case scenarios, allowing them to identify the families that need assistance. During the simulation exercise, the integration of responses, identification of beneficiaries, and food distribution will be practiced. This intervention will help determine the funds necessary to sustain operations for the projected number of days when food subsidies are required.

The initiative will be managed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) as a response to the current crisis. CSWDO will oversee the distribution of food, with a focal person assigned to every barangay. Ravena also highlighted a partnership with Central Philippine University for the establishment of a biowave stove, which uses rice hulls and sawdust instead of liquefied petroleum gas. Additionally, the City Agriculturist Office has volunteered to use produce from city-government-supported vegetable gardens.

The concept of community kitchens was first introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2023. During this time, the city government led efforts to prepare food for affected residents, and with support from private sector donors, the community kitchen initiative served more than 30,000 meals daily.