The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has acquired seven more food trucks on top of its existing 16 units as part of its efforts to help address hunger in the country, especially in times of disasters.
The PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels fleet, a first of its kind in the country, is part of the ahency’s quick response program as these vehicles are quickly deployed to disaster-stricken areas.
PRC’s Hot Meals on Wheels first started in 2005, through the vision and initiative of PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon, to provide food to the most vulnerable. Currently, the food trucks are stationed in key strategic areas nationwide to hasten relief operations in times of disaster.
On record, PRC’s food trucks have catered to over a million people, responding to disasters like the Bohol earthquake and Zamboanga siege in 2013, the Mindanao earthquake in 2019, Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in 2020, and throughout the entire COVID-19 operations.
“We immediately purchased and built these food trucks to alleviate hunger that is happening in our country. The new food trucks are capable of feeding 100 people per hour and are one of the first to be shipped during a disaster),” Gordon said.
The food truck has played a vital role in PRC’s emergency response through the delivery of hot meals in evacuation centers. Each food truck is equipped with industrial size burners, steamers, and other cooking equipment.
The Hot Meals on Wheels fleet is just one of the programs as Gordon leads the PRC modernization program.