The Mayor of the second richest city in the Philippines said that they need assistance from the national government as they might get short of budget to buy food for their residents next month.
In a press conference Wednesday, Joy Belmonte of Quezon City vowed to feed 400,000 families during the whole period of community quarantine in the Philippines so they’re not going to worry from being jobless for one month.
“Tayo po yung may pinakamalaki at pinakamaraming sustentuhan in the few weeks leading up to April 12,” Belmonte said.
“Next week, March 23 to March 27, QC will be able to provide food for these 400,000 families. The week after that, the QC gov’t will again be able to provide for them,” she added.
She also ordered the barangay captains to activate their quick response fund to help their people.
“Gamitin niyo para pambili ng pagkain para sa mga nawalan ng kabuhayan, dahil it will take time for the city government to procure food supplies for 400,000 families,” the Mayor told the Quezon City, barangay captains.
However, they said that they might get short of the budget in the fourth week of the community quarantine, that’s why they’re already informing the national government and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help them.
“Sa ika-apat na linggo, medyo magkukulang na po ang pondo ng lungsod, sapagkat ang quick response fund po natin ay mauubos na, at ang halaga nito ay P400-M lang ata, and we have other things to take care of katulad hospital equipment,” she said.
“We are now appealing to the DSWD, national government na sana tulungan naman nila kami sa lungsod ng Quezon,” she added.
Quezon City is one of the cities affected by the month-long community quarantine ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.