Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar has assured residents in the city of continuing distribution of food packs and other assistance during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As of April 2, more than 75,000 food packs consisting of four kilos of rice, canned goods, instant noodles, and vegetables were released to families in the city’s 20 barangays.
Aguilar appealed for understanding and patience from the residents who are yet to receive the assistance but assured them that every family will be given food package to augment their daily subsistence.
“Makakaasa po kayo na ang lahat ay mabibigyan ng tulong. Patuloy po ang ating mga volunteer sa paghahanda ng mga food packages, sa kabila ng kakulangan ng ilang supplies. Sinisikap po naming mapunuan ang anumang kakulangan para ang lahat ay mabigyan. Wala po tayong pinipiling bibigyan ng tulong,” Aguilar said.
The distribution of relief assistance is being done house-to-house in every barangay, particularly during nighttime to ensure that no one will come out on the streets.
Only members of Incident Management Team (IMT), assisted by the police in coordination with barangay officials, are tasked to distribute the food packs.
The mayor also advised the residents to call the attention of their barangay officials if they have not received the food packs yet so they can be given similar assistance.
She also urged everyone to strictly follow the stay at home order and other ECQ protocols to help the government fight the dreaded COVID-19 the soonest possible time.
Meanwhile, Aguilar directed the City Health Office to double its effort in preparing the Las Piñas Drug Rehabilitation Center as possible health facility for COVID-19 patients of the city.
The Department of Health approved in principle the conversion of the 100-bed capacity drug rehab center to be used as isolation facility for COVID-19 afflicted Las Piñas residents.
Aguilar said they hope to complete the process the soonest possible time to augment the facilities of several public and private hospital in the city with COVID-19 patients.