DTI to launch ‘rolling stores’ in Pasay amid quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Pasay City will soon find it easier to buy goods like meat and vegetables and other basic items, as the local government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) prepare to launch the so-called “rolling stores” amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

“Pasay LGU (local government unit), DTI to launch rolling stores, as per Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano. The rolling stores of Pasay LGU and DTI will be going around to Pasay’s 201 barangays to sell goods like meat, fish, vegetables and other basic needs that are cheaper than groceries or supermarket,” the Pasay City Public Information Office announced in a Viber message to reporters on Thursday.

It was not immediately clear when the stores will be rolled out as of posting time.

Aside from this move, the Pasay City government will also utilize 20 Mitsubishi L-300 vehicles and 100 e-tricycles to service frontliners of the LGU, including health workers, while public transport operations over the entire Luzon are still suspended.

The vehicles will also be used to transport persons with disabilities and senior citizens for medical check-ups, according to Pasay City PIO.

Meanwhile, the local government is also set to distribute 100,000 food packs to each of the city’s 201 barangays next week. Barangay officers will then be the one to deliver the food packs to families in their areas.

The national government has earlier ordered the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, which started on March 17 and will end at midnight on April 13. Public transport operations were suspended under the quarantine order.

Earlier, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) disallowed Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto  from fielding tricycles to ferry their health workers to nearby hospitals, saying this runs counter the social distancing measures of the government to contain COVID-19.

EDV