Community pantries were not likely to be allowed during NCR ECQ, according to MMDA chairperson.
On Tuesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said that community pantries were not likely to be allowed when the National Capital Region (NCR) shifted to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) this August.
Metro Manila will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20 in order to curb coronavirus transmission amidst the threat of the Delta COVID-19 variant.
During the Laging Handa briefing last August 3, Abalos said that community pantries can become super spreader events due to the lines of people, adding that the purpose of the enhanced community quarantine was to keep people inside their respective homes.
“Ang problema kasi sa pantry, kung pipila ka, baka maging super spreader event. Siguro i-coordinate na lamang para bahay-bahay na lang po ito. Ang purpose kasi ng ECQ ay huwag lumabas ng bahay. Kung magpapapila po tayo sa labas at magbibigay tayo [ng pagkain], baka magkagulo. Kung gustong tumulong, gumawa tayo ng magandang sistema ay i-deliver na lamang sa bahay-bahay para huwag na lumabas ang mga tao,” Abalos said.
READ ALSO: Walk-ins At Vaccination Sites Not Allowed During ECQ — DOH
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had said that the 15-day enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila would mean 127,000 job losses.
Abalos, a former mayor of Mandaluyong City, said that people’s mobility would really have to be reduced during the ECQ period in Metro Manila so that prolonged enhanced community quarantine won’t be an option.
“We really need to stay home as much as possible so we can starve the virus and prevent transmission,” Abalos said.
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