By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto allayed on Thursday the fears of his constituents, telling them not to worry because stores selling essential items will remain open.
“Paalala sa ating mga kababayan na pwedeng bumili ng pagkain, pero isa-isa lang tayo dapat lumabas ng bahay. Wag din mag-alala, hindi magsasara ang mga tindahang may essential goods,” the city mayor said Thursday.
In his Facebook page, Sotto shared photos of stores implementing the recently approved Ordinance No. 7 or the “Anti Panic-Buying and Anti-Hoarding Ordinance of Pasig City.”
Under the measure, the city government has set a limit to the number of selected items that each person could buy per day.
This is to avoid hoarding and ensure the adequate amount of food and other essential items amid the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to the guidelines set by the government, stores and shopping malls were urged to temporarily close and suspend their operations during the quarantine period.
Grocery stores, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, drugstores, and other medical supplies stores are exempted and will remain open.
“Thank you to the groceries and convenience stores that have cooperated with our Anti-Panic Buying and Hoarding Ordinance,” Sotto said.
To help Pasig City residents in dire need, the city government has allocated P158 million to purchase 400,000 food packs containing rice and canned goods for distribution.
“Tulong po ito ng lokal na pamahalaan sa mga nangangailangan, lalo na't maraming di nakakapagtrabaho ngayong community quarantine,” Sotto said.
The food packs are expected to be delivered by the end of the week.