Duterte urges military to provide food, shelter to stranded commuters
Published Mar 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
Military camps are expected to open their doors to people in need of food and a place to sleep following the lockdown measures now in place in Luzon.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malacañan Palace on March 12, 2020. (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANIL BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"Yung stranded, we will try to help you. Your Air Force and your Army will help you wherever you are,” Duterte said during his taped public address aired early Friday morning.
"Kung wala ka nang mauwian, kung wala na kayong matulugan (If you don’t have a place to stay, you don’t have a place to sleep), I am asking the military commanders of the different camps all over the country that you can go there and ask for accommodation at pagkain (and food)," he said.
The President assured that the military is willing to help those in need of food and shelter. "They would only be too willing to help you. ‘Yan ang ating army at pulis, bigyan kayo pagkain at tulugan (The Army and the police will give you food and a place to sleep)," he said.
Duterte also admitted that his his heart bleeds for Filipinos who are unable to return home amid the security measures imposed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. He said the government is prepared to assist Filipinos in distress.
"in the meantime, they will try to communicate to authorities in Manila to -- we will try to…Anyway, makukuha ko kayo (I will fetch you). That is a very terrible thing. You know, as a matter of fact, it would have been very cruel for you to drive away lalo na ‘yung mga bata nagbakasyon tapos walang mauwian, walang tatanggap (when the children who went on vacation cannot go home, nobody wants them)," he said.
"My heart bleeds for them. Hindi mo malaman na kung saan ka pupunta. Pilipino ka naman pero wala namang tatanggap sa iyo (You don't even know where to go.You're a Filipino, yet no one accommodates you). To me, I can understand your refusal. But more than your feeling, ‘yung akin is to somehow protect and help Filipinos in distress," he said.
Duterte further said: "As your President, I am now invoking the sanctity of my oath of office -- to help people and my countrymen."
President Duterte recently ordered enhanced community quarantine in Luzon that will compel millions of Filipinos to stay home in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Public transportation has been suspended while companies are urged to allow their workers to work from home. Land, sea, and air travels have also been restricted while large gatherings have been banned.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malacañan Palace on March 12, 2020. (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANIL BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"Yung stranded, we will try to help you. Your Air Force and your Army will help you wherever you are,” Duterte said during his taped public address aired early Friday morning.
"Kung wala ka nang mauwian, kung wala na kayong matulugan (If you don’t have a place to stay, you don’t have a place to sleep), I am asking the military commanders of the different camps all over the country that you can go there and ask for accommodation at pagkain (and food)," he said.
The President assured that the military is willing to help those in need of food and shelter. "They would only be too willing to help you. ‘Yan ang ating army at pulis, bigyan kayo pagkain at tulugan (The Army and the police will give you food and a place to sleep)," he said.
Duterte also admitted that his his heart bleeds for Filipinos who are unable to return home amid the security measures imposed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. He said the government is prepared to assist Filipinos in distress.
"in the meantime, they will try to communicate to authorities in Manila to -- we will try to…Anyway, makukuha ko kayo (I will fetch you). That is a very terrible thing. You know, as a matter of fact, it would have been very cruel for you to drive away lalo na ‘yung mga bata nagbakasyon tapos walang mauwian, walang tatanggap (when the children who went on vacation cannot go home, nobody wants them)," he said.
"My heart bleeds for them. Hindi mo malaman na kung saan ka pupunta. Pilipino ka naman pero wala namang tatanggap sa iyo (You don't even know where to go.You're a Filipino, yet no one accommodates you). To me, I can understand your refusal. But more than your feeling, ‘yung akin is to somehow protect and help Filipinos in distress," he said.
Duterte further said: "As your President, I am now invoking the sanctity of my oath of office -- to help people and my countrymen."
President Duterte recently ordered enhanced community quarantine in Luzon that will compel millions of Filipinos to stay home in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Public transportation has been suspended while companies are urged to allow their workers to work from home. Land, sea, and air travels have also been restricted while large gatherings have been banned.