Use delivery services for basic goods only, DTI tells public amid Luzon-wide quarantine

The Department of Trade and Industry asked online shoppers in Luzon, which is under an enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19, to limit their purchases to basic goods such as food and medicine.

Food preparation and delivery services are allowed to operate during the March 17 to April 13 quarantine period, according to the guidelines released by Malacañang on Monday.

“Iyong mga magsha-shopping hindi puwede, pero iyong basic necessities like magpa-deliver ka ng pagkain, gamot, grocery products, okay lang iyan,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters in Malacañang early Wednesday morning.

Asked if clothes cannot be considered a basic necessity, Lopez replied in the affirmative.

“Oo, hindi na,” he said.

Lopez on Tuesday said the quarantine would bode well for contactless food delivery service which the government encouraged to limit the spread of the deadly virus.

GrabFood Philippines started implementing this week its contactless delivery to minimize contact between customers and its delivery partners and stay true to the recommended practice of social distancing.

The Philippines has so far reported 193 cases with 14 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the Department of Health. Seven patients have recovered from the disease. — Virgil Lopez/BM, GMA News