Delivery of ‘next essentials’ like clothing, hardware items now allowed during ECQ

FILE – Food delivery workers continue to provide service despite the community quarantine declared by the Philippine government during the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown in Manila on March 20, 2020. (Photo by Maria TAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The delivery of “next essentials” such as clothing, hardware products and appliances are now allowed in Metro Manila and other areas placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Even under the ECQ, we have expanded items that can be delivered since the ECQ has been extended, we recognize that many of our kababayans (fellowmen) will be needing more items beyond the essentials, so we are going to the next essentials,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said during the “Laging Handa” press briefing, explaining what “next essentials” mean.

Previously, delivery services in e-commerce for food, disinfectants and other basic necessities were the only ones allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), as these were considered as “essentials.”

Some areas, including Metro Manila, are still under ECQ until May 15 due to rising COVID-19 cases.

“In other words, before we only food and other disinfectants, now we have included hardware products and pet food, and veterinary products as well as clothing and accessories,” the DTI secretary added.

“Pati na rin po housewares, pati na rin po appliances dahil kailangang i-repair or palitan ang kanilang mga appliances [kaya] ina-allow po sa delivery mode,” Lopez further said.

(Also housewares and appliances, because these need repair or replacement, that’s why we’ve allowed them on delivery mode.)

To date, the Philippines has 8,928 COVID-19 cases, of which 1,124 have recovered while 603 succumbed to the disease.