Residents storm barangay hall in Rizal for aid

Residents of Barangay Muzon in Taytay, Rizal trooped to their barangay hall for food assistance after not receiving any relief goods amid the enhanced community quarantine.

According to a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil on Thursday, several residents were angry because they have been left out of the list of beneficiaries, while some of their neighbors have gotten their share.

Last week, residents from the same barangay also mobbed the hall for relief assistance.

Taytay mayor Joric Gacula said the barangay had to stop the relief distribution because residents were not observing social distancing when receiving the goods.

“Mawawala po ‘yong ating guidelines sa social distancing. Kaya po sila mahigpit, kapag hindi kayo makikipag-cooperate at maje-jeopardize ‘yong kalusugan noong magde-deliver at noong mga tao, ipu-pull out po nila ang delivery,” Gacula said.

Meanwhile, the Rizal provincial government said it is doing its best to give every citizen his share of relief goods, however, some products have yet to arrive.

“Ang nararanasan namin na problema ngayon is ‘yong delivery and purchase gaya ng bigas. We have ordered sa NFA 50,000 cavans of rice, pero up to now, hindi pa kami nadadalhan,” Vice governor Rey San Juan said.

Earlier, the Taytay Online Palengke was launched in partnership with some private establishments and the local government of Taytay.

“Sila’y nag-isip na magkakaroon ng isang delivery system na lang. Para dadalhin sa bahay ninyo para hindi na tayo magkita-kita pa sa lugar tulad ng palengke o ano. O-order ka na lang sa kanila ng goods,” Gacula said.

As of Thursday, there are already 1,000 members in the online palengke, where residents can buy essential goods such as vegetables, snacks and drinks.

Three mobile palengkes were also rolled out by the government so that people would refrain from leaving their households.

Taytay has so far reported 11 cases of COVID-19, including three deaths.

In the Philippines, there are currently 2,633 COVID-19 cases, 107 fatalities and 51 recoveries. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News