Residents going hungry in Caloocan barangay fear quarantine facility

Aside from dealing with hunger as aid remains undelivered, residents of a barangay in Caloocan City expressed worry over the construction of a quarantine facility near the area, saying it felt like they had a foot in the grave.

In Mark Salazar's Wednesday report on 24 Oras, residents of Barangay 28 said they did not understand why the facility is being built in their already congested area.

"Takot na takot kami. Hindi kami makatulog dahil pag-nakikita namin 'yan parang naa-ano kami, isang paa namin nasa hukay," a resident said.

Another resident, meanwhile, urged the local government to cease the construction of the facility for the apparent safety of the greater good.

"Nananawagan po ako sa inyo mayor, sana po wag niyo na po ipatuloy ito. Para na rin po sa mga kaligtasan ng mga mas nakakarami dito," he said.

According to a kagawad, the barangay is composed of around 10,000 residents.

"Malaki po ito. Ang residente po dito, umaabot ng 10,000. 'Yan pong area na 'yan. Kami po ay hindi eksperto sa kalusugan, sa health, pero nangangamba po kami dahil mabigat pong kalaban itong COVID-19," Kagawad Willy Dalusong said.

For his part, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said that only 15 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients will be staying in the facility.

He added that the distance between the facility and the houses is around 16 to 25 meters.

Malapitan explained that he failed to consult the officials of the barangay as the situation was an emergency.

Many of the barangay's residents have also been going hungry, sayingthey have not yet received any assistance from the government.

"Kawawa na ang taong bayan dito. Sa totoo lang po lahat ng kilos ng maliliit na mamayan dito sa aming barangay ay hindi nila pinapakinggan po," a resident said.

"Puro na lang lista. Kailan po ba nila ibibigay ang ayuda? Kapag dilat na ang mga mata ng tao, nakanganga na kami sa gutom?" another resident added.

However, on Wednesday morning, a private company from Valenzuela gave residents free fish which was divided for 70 pedicab drivers. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News