Duterte orders barangays to feed residents during Luzon-wide quarantine

This is the PH government's next step after announcing "enhanced community quarantine" in Luzon.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that barangays will be in charge of supplying food to residents in Luzon as the country's northern mainland is placed under "enhanced community quarantine" to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"The barangay captions (chairman) should call a number and at least food, rice and some, ano, ulam, puwede niyong ibigay para sa ating mga kababayan," Duterte said in a pre-taped public address.

An earlier Palace memorandum characterized "enhanced community quarantine" as entailing:

strict home quarantine in all households;
suspended transportation lines;
regulated provision for food and essential health services; and,
heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures.

READ: DILG To Brgy. Execs: Duty Failure Will Face Suspension

Duterte also said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will "go around and look (for) people who are hungry" during the enhanced quarantine period.

During the latter part of his address, Duterte said Luzon residents may "[leave] their houses only to buy food, medicine and other necessary survival in the coming days."

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be in effect until April 12.

As of Monday, there are 142 cases of COVID-19 in the country, including 12 fatalities.

This article is written up in support to spread awareness for COVID-19 cases and community quarantine updates in the Philippines.

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