Guiginto town in Bulacan near the North Luzon Expressway north of Manila has adopted white ribbons, or anything white piece of cloth, as a symbol of love in this difficult season of COVID-19, which has infected 3,018 and killed 136 in the country.
Those in the middle-income sector and officials of Barangay Malis have discovered a simple way to maximize the limited supply of relief goods to the lower-income residents.
Families were asked to put up white ribbons or any form of white cloth on their gates to indicate they are waving off the food packs in favor of their neighbors who need more help.
“We asked our more fortunate residents to make way for our neighbors who need them (relief goods) more. We are so thankful many responded positively to our call,” said Barangay Malis chief Cezar Mendoza said in an interview with a TV station, beamed nationwide.
Just like what other barangay executives have been experiencing, Mendoza said they were at a loss on how to distribute their limited support to all their affected constituents.
President Rodrigo Duterte has put the country’s main island of Luzon, where there are more than 27 million households, in a modified lockdown since March 17.
That prevented movements of workers and allowed only essential business in the medical and food industry to operate.
Displaced workers who get their income on a day-to-day basis–public utility drivers, construction workers, sidewalk vendors and the like — have not been able to work and earn for their family.
Mendoa added: “We really want to thank (our richer townmates) for their understanding. Now our volunteers can prioritize our poorer constituents.”