Fish ration in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro (left) and vegetable packs in Mandaluyong City. (Photos: Mansalay and Mandulyong PIOs)
MANILA, Philippines–Local government units in Luzon have started rationing food as the enhanced community quarantine order has forced residents to remain indoors.
Without public transportation, residents in the quarantine need to walk to the market carrying with them a government-issued food and medicine pass to allow them passage through police checkpoints.
That’s why food packs delivered to their doorsteps are like gifts sent from heaven.
A bag normally contains some basic necessities, like rice, canned goods, and noodles.
Pasig City is distributing rice, sardines, corned tuna, corned beef, and meatloaf.
Makati City, meanwhile, has separate sets of food rations for elementary and high school students.
Separate sets of food rations for high school and elementary students in Makati City. (Photos from MyMakati Facebook page)
But there are local government executives who are thinking outside the box.
In Mansalay town in Oriental Mindoro, Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag went house-hopping to deliver emergency food.
It’s not a pack of goodies, though. Instead, Maliwanag delivered fresh fish caught from Mansalay Bay.
“He bought the fish catch of the fishermen to help them earn their income. The fish are part of the food assistance of the LGU,” said Alain Maulion.
“Fresh is best to fight the COVID19,” Maulion added.
The town has a population of over 54,000.
Mansalay residents receive fresh fish from Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag. (Photo: Mansalay PIO)
In Mandaluyong City, local officials led by Mayor Menchie Abalos distributed fresh vegetables, like squash, bitter gourd, eggplant, and onion.
The vegetables were bought from farms in Nueva Ecija.
The city’s Public Information Office said the vegetables will be distributed along with grocery packs.
Vegetables from Nueva Ecija are ready to be repacked for distribution in Mandaluyong City. (Photo: Mandaluyong City PIO)