CEBU, Philippines — The community pantries in Cebu City have been observing the minimum health standard protocols despite the influx of crowd.
This was the assessment by the police after President Rodrigo Duterte said that the people should just wait for government’s aid in their houses instead of going out to avoid the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy city director for operations, said they have come up with a system that ensures that the people won't flock at once in the pantries in which according to him has been followed properly so far.
"Naatiman gyud ni ayo ang minimum health protocol nato kay ato man ni gi-arrange, gi by hour man ni nato. Every hour naa man tay gi-allot nga mga tawo nga pwede ra moanha," he added.
According to Parilla they would only allow 15 to 20 people per hour, a minimal amount of people wherein the proper social distancing has been properly observed.
This method runs from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the afternoon. Parilla also said that the coupon they have distributed was able to keep up on their system.
The coupon indicates the time they are allowed to avail the products from the pantries to also avoid the overcrowding.
"Ma-arrange nato ang atong pagpanghatag ug pangapod-apod sa atoang Barangayanihan," said Parilla.
Parilla also said that they would continue putting up of the community pantry since there is no directive coming from the national headquarters that prohibits it.
"As of now, wala pa tay nadawat nga directive nga atoang hunongan so ongoing gihapon ang directive sa higher headquarter nga padayun ang atoang Barangayanihan ayuda. Kung dunay moabot nga directive kanato nga atoang usbon or atoang hunongon, so we will abide with the directive," said Parilla.
Last April 30, CCPO launched their food pantries simultaneously along with the 11 police stations in the city.
Since then the police have estimated at least 100 to 150 individuals coming to said pantries per day. — GMR (FREEMAN)