Charles Teves
Luzon is now under community quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing is to be observed by every single person.
But several photos posted by netizen Annie Tajanlangit Mercado showed that citizens at Las Piñas city hall crowding as the city government distributed relief goods. There was no social distancing as seen in the photos.
Mercado expressed her thoughts saying that the goods should have been delivered to different barangays instead and from there, distributed to the different homes.
“City of Las Piñas pauwiin niyo mga tao!! Ihatid nyo mga bags na yan sa mga barangay para i house to house yan!! Magsipag kayo! Di pwede short cut na sistema dito! Please! Gabi na madami pa tao o…. good God!”
https://www.facebook.com/1238628182/posts/10217730326670099/?d=n
Netizens were furious about how things were handled.
“Stupidity at its finest!!! Di eto calamity!!! VIRUS!!!! Ano ba mayor?!?!?! Tularan mo si Mayor Vicco Sotto!!!
“Mayor nasan kana??? Update naman!!! Ang sabi sa balita lahat ng mayor, kapitan, kagawad kumilos na para sa taong bayan. Nasan ang tulong mula s inyo. Ang hindi kikilos pwede sibakin s posisyon
“Mga barangay captain po dapat mag gala o mag ikot ikot kasi daming bata sa langsangan ng isang lugar nila tapos mga magulang wala lng pakealam..mag mega mic nlng..kada street..
“Diba ang sabi ni pangulong Duterte, ihahatid sa bawat bahay ang supply? Bakit pina pila ang mga tao. Crowded din ang nilabasan niyan! Susmaryosep! Pinag iingat mga ang bilang ng tao! Di pwedeng ganyang sistema!
“Dapt binibigay sa mga kapitan at mga president ng mga home owner pra cla Ang mag distribute hnd ung nag kukulong lng din cla!!”
Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar has apologized since then. Jon, a citizen of the city said that not everyone who went there received relief goods.
“The city government will make sure that your needs will be provided, especially in this time of crisis,” said Aguilar.
“Not everyone got relief goods. I even didn’t get one myself. There were so many people that we were standing too close to each other. The lucky ones each received a food pack containing rice, three packs of noodles, four canned goods, a pack of coffee and a pack of milk.”
“But the people there were also in the wrong. We were being reminded by the police to keep a 1-meter distance from each other, but most were hardheaded.”
Free canned goods in exchange for your life. What was Mayor Aguilar thinking when she called on all the poor residents of Las Pinas at City Hall to distribute relief goods without observing the 2 meter social distance requirement? https://t.co/ZGaAYCuDG3
— Legalist (@junjijayme165) March 18, 2020
Las Piñas LGU! While it's great that you are distributing relief goods, have you been living under a rock these days? You are subjecting these poor people to the possibility of contracting the virus. https://t.co/FourzYIYAu
— Jennifer Tan Rockwell 🇵🇭🐯🦁🐱 (@JennyRockwell) March 18, 2020
@DILGPhilippines Anong masasabi nyo sa kapabayaang ito sa Las Pińas?
Residents gathered at the city hall as relief goods are released when the public shld stay at home to prevent the spread of #COVID19. Social distancing is not followed.
📹 Sheil Andes pic.twitter.com/4iDWGXd3IT
— Leisbeth Recto (@leisbeth_recto) March 20, 2020
Here in Las Piñas, in order to acquire relief goods, citizens need to personally go to Municipal Hall AMIDST ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE.#LASPIÑASOURHOME
— Jap (@JPDltrr) March 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/QueenCarol_19/status/1240964988912582658
LOOK: Las Piñas residents lining up to claim their relief goods allocation at the City Hall earlier today. LPC LGU is criticised for the lack of proper implementation of the DOH’s advice on observing social distancing and home quarantine.
📸 Source wishes for stay anonymous. pic.twitter.com/0J3ZHlaTUU
— South Snippets®️ (@SouthSnippets) March 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/markingjoseph/status/1240506958899105792
https://twitter.com/borntobemrsim/status/1240288248292757511
https://twitter.com/neomukawaii/status/1240236215418245126
Now, Las Piñas has six new cases of the coronavirus.
Malacañang has already released the guidelines for the Luzon quarantine. On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles read the guidelines during a televised briefing.
In a press briefing following the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting Wednesday night, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the national government is worried about the use motorcycles and tricycles since this actually violates the practice of social distancing.
“Concerned talaga ang gobyerno dito sa pag gamit ng tricycle dahil hindi namin lubos makita o maintindihan kung paano mag-social distancing sa tricycle,”
“Let’s all stick to the common ground rules,” he said.
When it comes to food, Duterte has mentioned that the Philippines has enough supply.
On Monday, the President assured the people that no one is going to be suffering from hunger.
“I have been assured by Ramon Ang mismo (himself) of San Miguel and the other food conglomerates that there will be sufficient food,”
“There will be no hunger in the coming weeks because we have enough supplies,” the President added.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has been given the task of implementing measures to speed up the distribution of food to those who are most affected by the lockdown in Luzon.
“Rol, you utilize all vehicles of government available, just go around and maybe asking if there is somebody starving or in need of food,”
President Duterte urged barangay captains to do their job right.
“There is really a need for you to work with government. And if you violate this, then you can be liable for dereliction of duty,”
“The barangay captains should call a number and at least food, rice and some — ano ‘yung ulam pwede ninyong ibigay sana para sa ating mga kababayan”
GrabFood and GrabExpress are here to help the people when it comes to food deliveries.
Grab said they will open their services to help those in need.
“The decision was made to support the food establishments that will continue to operate and maintain the continuous flow of goods to serve the essential needs of Filipinos during these trying times,”
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said food establishments would do delivery services to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
“Nabanggit ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kahapon na tulungan natin ang maliliit na negosyante. May mga karinderya at mga magdadala ng pagkain kasi we encourage [people to] stay home so dapat may mga ganung facility din tutal uso ang mga delivery apps.”
Lopez, in a text message on Monday saidm “Agriculture, manufacturing, and services like food preparation and deliveries and distribution of these basic necessities will still be allowed.”
Also, in a video message released on Friday, Duterte said uniformed personnel will make it possible for those affected to not go hungry.
“Yung stranded, we will try to help you. Your Air Force and your Army will help you wherever you are. Kung wala na kayong mauwian, kung wala na kayong matulugan, I am asking the military commanders of different camps all over the country that you can go there and ask for accommodation at pagkain and they will [give you].
“They’d only be too willing to help you. Yan ang ating military at pulis. Bigyan kayo ng pagkain at tulugan “
