Charles Teves
Netizens blasted Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta after flirting with the idea of feeding food pills to the less privileged Filipinos.
The lawmaker made the statement during the confirmation hearing of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., saying that if the country can produce food pills or something like those that astronauts eat when they are in space, then poor families can survive for a long time even without eating actual food.
“[When t]hey [astronauts] are in orbit, they spend days even months without cooking their food. Kasi po wala hindi naman nila pwedeng magluto doon sa kanilang spaceship, tama po ba?” Marcoleta said.
He added, “I’m thinking aloud na kung sakali pong makaimbento tayo nung kinakain nila (astronauts), ibibigay ko po sa mga mahihirap na kababayan natin. Even for months hindi sila kakain, hindi sila mamatay.”
“Ito ho palliative lang. Meaning to say we have to just fill up a gap. Kung sakali pong matulungan natin the poorest of our poor, naimbento po ninyo yung pildoras o whatever, kahit anong kulay pa po yun tatanggapin ko,” he added.
However, according to Solidum, no such food has been developed in the country at this time. The only food supply available in disaster situations, he said, has a six-month shelf life.
Marcoleta followed up by inquiring if Filipino scientists could create food pills, which would have a profound effect on the lives of the country’s impoverished population.
Food insecurity and the lack of access to healthy food are issues that Solidum will investigate.
Later that day, Solidum and two other Cabinet secretaries had their appointments confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
Netizens thought Marcoleta’s suggestion was completely half-witted.
Si #Marcoleta maunang kumain. Tingnan muna kung effective. Saang lugar ba to nanggaling? https://t.co/xWcrhLfrdc
— Rechelle (@reecheelle) December 8, 2022
Nope. Food pills are not the bet solution against poverty, Marcoleta…unless you thought of it while chugging down your mug of Jimm's N-in-1 coffee mix with ginko biloba, ginseng and bakopa monera. https://t.co/JxR86tALtK
— Reg (@rkblurbs) December 8, 2022
IPADALA SI MARCOLETA SA IBANG PLANETA – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/IIxX2yNjZS via @ChangePilipinas
— ILOVEMCLISSE-BOHOL (@nestoquia) December 8, 2022
Tumatanda yatang walang pinagkatandaan si Marcoleta. Hindi na nakakapag-isip ng mas epektibong solusyun para sa mga Filipino.
— Janina Ocampo (@j28ocampo) December 8, 2022
Hayaan mo na, sanay kasi sumakit sa Space Ship si Marcoleta every thursday. 🤣🤣🤣
— Kabibe M. Agnanakaw (@insensitive0618) December 8, 2022
‘ I say use Marcoleta as a test subject sa pill na yan. Sya ang pakainin ng punyetang pill na yan.
— Pau Ocampo (@PauOcampo25) December 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/jinjin120421/status/1600745290344321025?s=20
Astronaut food is not really enough to keep off hunger for long days. On its website, NASA said astronauts eat three meals a day. It stated, “Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Nutritionists also ensured that the provision of the astronauts is a balanced supply of vitamins and minerals. Most of the foods astronauts eat are just regular food like brownies and such.
NASA stated, “An astronaut can choose from many types of foods such as fruits, nuts, peanut butter, chicken, beef, seafood, candy, brownies, etc. Available drinks include coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches, and lemonade.”
Marcoleta is known as the most prominent congressman who helped shut down ABS-CBN. As far as people know, that’s his only achievement as a politician.
