By Genalyn Kabiling The country has sufficient food supply to quell any hunger during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, President Duterte declared Monday night. President Rodrigo Duterte
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) The President assured the public that there will be "no hunger" after receiving an assurance from food conglomerates about their adequate supplies while the region-wide quarantine remains in effect. "I have been assured by Ramon Ang mismo (himself) of San Miguel and the other food conglomerates that there will be sufficient food," he said in his public address in Malacañang after a meeting with the government task force on efforts to combat the coronavirus spread. "There will be no hunger in the coming weeks because we have enough supplies," he added. Duterte said he has also directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to implement measures to hasten the distribution of food assistance to the most affected residents in Luzon. He said Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista and his team should go around and extend food aid to people in need. "Rol, you utilize all vehicles of government available, just go around and maybe asking if there is somebody starving or in need of food,” he said. The President has imposed the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to curb the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases. In the memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the government will enforce strict home quarantine in all households, suspend public transportation, ban mass gatherings, restrict land, air, and sea travel, enforce a work-from-home arrangement for the executive branch, among other measures. Private establishments providing basic necessities and engaged in activities related "to food and medicine production, i.e., public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, food preparation and delivery services, water-refilling stations, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water, and telecommunications supplies and facilities, shall be open,” the memorandum read. These open establishments must adopt a skeletal workforce and observe strict social distancing measures. The President, meantime, reminded barangay captains to keep tabs on their communities during the quarantine period. He said it is their duty to look after the welfare of the local communities. "There is really a need for you to work with government. And if you violate this, then you can be liable for dereliction of duty," he said. "The barangay captains should call a number and at least food, rice and some --- ano ‘yung ulam pwede ninyong ibigay sana para sa ating mga kababayan (what viands can you give for our compatriots)," he added.   https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7sqyjl