Palace to community pantries: Coordinate with LGUs during ECQ

Organizers of community pantries should get clearance from local government units if they plan to distribute free food over the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region.

"Kasi ang anyo po ng ECQ, lahat dapat homeliners, except kung bibili o kukuha ng pangangailangan,” President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said of the two-week ECQ. 

[Under ECQ, everybody should stay home, except to buy or get essentials.]

“Naiintindihan natin na importante ang humanitarian relief para doon sa mga wala talagang pambili ng pagkain, pero they have to coordinate with the LGUs. Papayagan po siguro iyan kung papayagan ng LGU," he added.

[We understand that humanitarian relief for those who can't afford to buy food is important, but this should be done in coordination with LGUs. It could be allowed if LGUs allow it, and if the LGU will designate areas for that and will be the one to implement health protocols.]

Roque said it would be the LGUs which would designate areas for the community pantries and implement health protocols.

The government has allocated P13.1 billion for cash aid for low income families in NCR during the August ECQ period, but only Valenzuela City has announced definite date of the distribution of such cash aid on August 7 and 8.

Community pantries gained ground in March when Metro Manila was also placed under ECQ. —NB, GMA News