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.

Mayor Vico Sotto urged the national government to allow the tricycles in Pasig to operate explaining that people’s lives might be in danger if there’s no public transport roaming around the city.

In an interview with the reporters, Sotto revealed that some tricycle drivers that he allowed to operate today were apprehended by the authorities because of violating the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ which ordered that all public transportations were not allowed.

According to him, people who are seeking medical help have no choice but to stay at home because no public transport could bring them to the hospital.

“Hindi na po para sa tricycle driver, para nalang po sa public health and safety dahil ako po sa risk assessment na ginawa namin kapag hindi po natin pinayagan ang mga tricycle ay mas marami po ang mmatay,” Sotto said.

Sotto argued that people of Pasig might lose their lives not because of COVID-19, but because of the inability to go to the hospital.

The Mayor also denied that he’s defying the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that they’re willing to cooperate with the national government as long as there’s already public transportation available for the public health workers and patients.

He said that while they’re already offering free transport services for health workers and others, their vehicles are not enough to accommodate all of them.

“Kulang po talaga sa ngayon, kaya bakit hindi nalang muna natin payagan [yung mga tricycle],” he said.

Yesterday, Sotto ordered the tricycles to operate around Pasig, citing that people still need public transportation despite the order from the national government disallowing it.

He said that only people exempted from the public quarantine are allowed to use the tricycles.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Italy were furious with ABS-CBN journalist Karen Davila after the latter mentioned in national television that the Italian Government is giving food stamps to its citizens.

Davila who’s covering the enhanced community quarantine imposed on Luzon was talking about the food security of some countries who got affected by the COVID-19 and she mentioned Italy as one of the examples.

“Sa italy ay binibigyan ng mga vouchers ang mga tao para makapunta sa supermarket at makakuha ng pagkain ng libre,” Davila said.

However, some netizens working in Italy called the attention of Davila and informed her that there’s no food stamps or food being given to them by the government.

“Hoyyy Karen Davila sinong may sabing may libre vouchers dito sa Italy!!!I am from italy and we are in total lockdown but the food we buy it on our own pockets..makabalita ka palpak pa!may maibatikos lang sa gobyerno!nasan ang krebilidad mo!? Mahiya ka!!!! nga,” netizen Sylvia Apolonia said.

“Dito sa Italya kayod marino ang mga filipinos,pati hininga binabayaran dito,tapos ibabalita mo dyan sa Pilipinas may mga boucher ang mga taong naka clockdown dito sa italya,humusay usa ka nga karen lagi kay FAULT tuwing bumubuka ang bibig mo,” netizen Mhay Ayala commented.

“Hoy! Karen davila sa sariling bulsa namin kinukuha ang aming mga pambiling pagkain.. hindi sa government ng italy for your info,” Primz Bruno remarked.

Another netizen tried to ask Davila for clarification on her Instagram.

The journalist then clarified that the voucher is still only a proposal.

“Ma’am, correction. There is a proposed €600 voucher/financial assistance for mothers in Italy (can be used for food) as reported in the New York Times,” Davila told the OFW.

One netizen even made a vlog to debunk Davila.

Kristina’s Vlog, a Filipina working in Italy said that they’re not receiving anything from the Italian government and they’re forced to use their savings to buy basic needs.

“Sana po kapag magbabalita kayo siguraduhin niyo rin na tama yung binabalita niyo kasi wala pong free dito, siguro free lang dito yung tubig kasi may mga fountain dito na pwede kang uminom ng tubig,” she said.

Italy is one of the most affected countries by COVID-19.

As of writing, there are already 26,062 people infected by the said virus in Italy.

A netizen was done with people who are criticizing the government for the bad effects of the community quarantine to the poor people living in Luzon.

Netizen Jeoffrey Lacaba on a Facebook post, slammed the critics of the government and the people complaining about the community quarantine imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that the world is not yet going to end.

According to him, people should not be afraid to lose their lives because of hunger, as the government already vowed to help them to get food and financial support.

He suggested that people may ask their relatives for help if they cannot wait for relief goods from the government.

Lacaba believes that Filipinos could survive the month-long quarantine as some of them could even throw a birthday party and also ready to borrow money just to fund it.

The netizen also said that people should not think of their work for now as getting infected by COVID is more dangerous than being jobless.

He then urged the people to follow the simple request from the government to stay at home for a month to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Before ending his post, Lacaba said that all of them should participate and cooperate in the fight against COVID-19 because all Filipinos are going to benefit from it.

You can read his whole post below:

“ANONG SINASABI NYO NA PAG DI KAYO PUMASOK OR MAG WORK MMTAY KAYO SA GUTOM? 1 MONTH LANG PTAY NA AGAD? YUNG MGA SINASABI NYO NA WAKANG MAKAIN DATI NA SILA WALA MAKAIN, PERO NAKAKASURVIVE SILA..ANO KINAKATAKOT NYO?

1. HINDI PA ITO APOCALYPSE, may gobyerno pa tayo, may kuryente, tubig, open mga groceries, may mabibilhan pa tayo ng pagkain, may hospital, may mga tutlong sa atin, may WIFI at may TV pa nga eh..

2. WALA KA PERA PAMBILI NG FOOD? bakit wala ka ba kamag anak or kapitbahay na pede mo hingan ng tulong?
Bakit pag birthday or okasyon, nakaka gawa ka ng paraan, kahit mangutang ka para lang mairaos yang celebration mo, pero ito basic survival parang di mo kakayanin?
2 -3 days pede ka mag survive na hindi kumakain, for sure sa situation natin ngayon makakakain ka kahit isang beses sa isang araw, sinabi din na sa aalamin ng mga barangay chairman yung mga mawawalan ng pagkain at irereport sa DSWD para mag padala ng pagkain..so ano problema mo?

3. HINDI MAG PAPAPASWELDO ANG COMPANY MO KUNG HINDI KA PAPASOK..Eh ano ngayon? bakit? mawawalan ka ba ng trabaho? eh pano pag nahawa ka? at mmtay ka? pano pamilya mo? bibigyan ba sila ng tulong ng company mo? para kanino ka mag tatarabaho? yung customer mo or client mo naka community quarantine, ano gagawin mo sa work, tutunganga? kahit sa factory kapa nga wowork, pag lumala situation ipapahinto rin yan. ang tanong hihintayin mo pa ba na lumala bago ka sumunod?

4. ANO ANG HINDI NYO MAINTINDIHAN SA “STAY AT HOME” may crisis, nag utos ang gobyerno na dapat sa bahay lang muna bakit ayaw natin sumunod? ano mawala sa atin? ipinapakita mo lang na wala kang pagmamahal sa bayan mo, may kalaban ang bayan mo at humihingi sya ng tulong mo, ang gagawin mo lang ay mag stay sa bahay..paano kung mag ka gyera at humingi ng tulong ang bayan mo? eh di mas lalo kana hindi tutulong kasi makikipag barilan kana?

5. MAY GINAGAWA ANG GOBYERNO NATIN, PERO PARA MAGING EFFECTIVE YUN, DAPAT MAG PARTICPATE AT MAG COOPERATE TAYONG LAHAT..PARA KANINO BA LAHAT ITO? SINO BA MAKIKINABANG PAG NATALO NATIN TONG COVID-19 VIRUS? DIBA TAYONG LAHAT DIN? DI KA BA MAKOKONSENYA NA KUNG SAKALI MATALO NATIN TO, AT NAGING COVID FREE ANG PINAS, ISA KA SA MGA WALANG GINAWA KUNDI KUMONTRA AT MAGREKLAMO, PERO TINATAMASA MO ANG RESULTA NG SAKRIPISYO NG IBANG TAO..ANONG KLASENG PAGKATAO MERON KA?”

Yesterday, President Duterte imposed the community quarantine in Luzon, affecting millions of Filipinos.

Some of them even forced to walk to their destination as the government stopped all public transportations to control the movement of the people.

Source: [1]

Vice President Leni Robredo couldn’t stop herself from cursing after she was informed that some netizens are renting vans for the Office of the Vice President.

Robredo denied that they’re hiring vehicles for their free shuttle service program, saying that private organizations already offered their help without any cost.

“We are not hiring vehicles for our free shuttle services tomorrow. This is a malicious Facebook entry which intends to put our office in a bad light,” Robredo said.

“The free shuttle service that we will be offering to medical frontliners is through the kindness and generosity of private organizations, at no cost to the government,” she added.

She described the action as vile, asking how people could do such things during times of crisis.

“Walang sukdulan na kasamaan ang sinuman na nakakaisip pa ng mga ganitong kag*guhan sa panahon ng matinding sakuna,” she said.

According to the circulating Facebook post, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is hiring 300 transport vans for 3,500 a day each vehicle.

The post also told the vehicle owners and drivers to visit the OVP.

They even put “deployment as soon as possible” to attract more interested vehicle owners.

On Tuesday, Robredo announced that they’re going to offer free shuttle service to help the hospital workers.

This is what the announcement reads:

“The OVP will deploy six air-conditioned bus units on Wednesday for the round trips that will start at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the following routes:
ROUTE 1: RITM Alabang — Magallanes SLEX MRT (via Osmeña Highway, via Quirino Ave.) — Taft Ave. LRT — PGH / UP-NIH — Lawton LRT — Carriedo LRT — Recto LRT — Tayuman LRT — Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center
ROUTE 2: Heritage Hotel EDSA ext (via Roxas Blvd., via Quirino Ave.) — Taft Ave. LRT — PGH / UP-NIH — Manila City Hall (via Quiapo) — UST Hospital — UDMC (via Welcome Rotonda, via Quezon Ave.) — Phil. Orthopedic Center (Banawe, via Araneta Ave. — EDSA Quezon Ave. MRT
ROUTE 3: SM MOA Globe EDSA — EDSA Taft LRT / MRT — Magallanes MRT — Guadalupe MRT — Shaw MRT — Cubao MRT / LRT2 (via Aurora Blvd., via C5 ext.) — QMMC (via C5 / Marcos Highway) — Santolan LRT2 — Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta
ROUTE 4: EDSA ext. / Macapagal Ave. — EDSA Taft LRT / MRT — Magallanes MRT — Shaw MRT — Cubao MRT / LRT2 — East Ave. Medical Center — Phil. Heart Center — Lung Center of the Phils. (via Quezon Memorial Circle) — VMMC (via EDSA) — Monumento LRT
ROUTE 5: SM Fairview (via Commonwealth Ave, via Quezon Memorial Circle) — East Ave. Medical Center — Phil. Heart Center — Lung Center of the Phils. (via Agham Road, via Quezon Ave.) — Phil. Orthopedic Center — UDMC (Welcome Rotonda, via España) — UST Hospital — Lawton LRT
ROUTE 6: Balintawak LRT — Quezon Ave. MRT — GMA – Kamuning MRT — Cubao MRT — Santolan–Annapolis MRT — Ortigas MRT — EDSA cor. Kalayaan Ave. — Ayala MRT — Magallanes MRT — Heritage Hotel EDSA ext.”

Three business tycoons heeded President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to help the employees being affected by the community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon.

San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon Ang, Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific-Salim Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Ang, Ayala, and Pangilinan published their separate statements after President Duterte on a televised address asked the business tycoons to take care of their employees that might be absent for one month because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ang’s San Miguel Corporation said that they’re already assured the government of enough supply to feed the Filipinos amid the OUTBREAK.

They’re also planning to use one of their plants to make alcohol sanitizers that they’re going to give for free.

“We will provide essential services such as food, water, power, petrol products, and beverages to everyone,” Ang stated.

Ang said all employees of SMC would continue to get paid despite the quarantine and any form of work discontinuation.

This is also the same with Ayala, announcing that employees of their company are going be paid during the month-long quarantine period in Luzon.

They prepared a P2.4-B COVID-19 emergency response package consisting of “wages, bonuses, leave conversions and loan deferment” for its employees.

The group also said that they’re not going to charge their tenant who is affected by the closing of Ayala-owned malls.

Ayala is also going to distribute its mid-year bonuses earlier starting on March 17.

Meanwhile, Manny V. Pangilinan said that their employees should not worry because they’re going to receive salary despite being absent due to community quarantine.

“Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis. We have asked them to Work from Home.” Pangilinan said.

Heeding the President’s call tonight for business – large or small – to rise to the challenge posed by Covid 19, the MVP Group is one with the President in coping with this virus. We are helping our employees by maintaining their salaries and benefits during the crisis.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 16, 2020

They’re also planning to give the 13th-month pay in full for PLDT, Smart and Meralco employees.

We are also taking the following measures to ensure the well-being of our employees:

1) Advance 13th month pay in full for Pldt, Smart, and Meralco employees

2) Continuation of salaries and benefits of all employees.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) March 17, 2020

Malacanang is not yet releasing a statement on the recent move of the tycoons.

It can be remembered that President Duterte criticized Pangilinan and Ayala over a water deal between the government, Maynilad and Manila Water.

However, it seems that the President and the tycoons agreed to have a ceasefire to focus on helping the people affected by COVID-19.

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile debunked the fake news circulating about him amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.

On a Facebook post, Enrile informed his followers and critics on social media that he’s still alive and healthy. The 96-year-old lawyer and politician also denied that he got infected by COVID-19.

“Well, I am sorry to disappoint the rumormongers. I am still alive, and I do not have COVID 19. Thank God!! Enjoy your silliness, rumormongers. You might get what you are wishing for me. I will pray for your soul and health,” Enrile said.

Rumors about his condition circulated during the COVID-19 outbreak, however, most of them are just joking about the former Senator as he already became the symbol of immortality among Filipino netizens.

Netizens even made memes and jokes about Enrile’s unusual immune system.

“BREAKING NEWS: Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile tested positive for COVID-19. Doctors say the virus is in critical condition,” @whenjontweets said.

BREAKING NEWS: Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile tested positive for COVID-19. Doctors say the virus is in critical condition.

— Jon (@whenjontweets) March 17, 2020

A netizen even listed the outbreaks survived by Enrile for 96 years.

Netizens cannot be blamed for suspecting Enrile as an immortal being as he still tried to return to the Senate at 95-years-old and even went outside to campaign.

Enrile in an interview shared his secret to longevity, revealing that he’s eating ‘saluyot’ and other vegetable dishes to keep his health in good condition.

He also said that he’s not having a diet and still eating oily foods like chicharon.

However, the veteran politician said that he’s controlling the amount of rice he’s eating.

“I don’t eat rice in the evening when I already ate rice in the morning and at noon. I eat not more than a cup (per meal),” Enrile said.

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte warned Iglesia ni Cristo after she got informed that the religious sect is not following the executive order that she signed as a measure to fight COVID-19.

Duterte signed the executive order no. 10, which includes the suspension of all religious activities in Davao City.

The irritated Mayor on a statement reminded that the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo are could also be infected by the virus even if they continue to go inside their church to worship.

“We already told you through an executive order that all religious ceremonies should be suspended. I want to remind members of Iglesia Ni Cristo that praying inside the church will not save you from the virus. It will not prevent you from getting infected and from getting sick,” ani Duterte.

The presidential daughter warned that if INC ignores her request, she’s going to do any legal move to force them to obey the executive order.

“If we cannot appeal to INC to suspend their activities, then we are exploring what we can do on the legal side,”

Duterte then asked the members of Iglesia ni Cristo to avoid doing their religious activities for a while.

Iglesia Ni Cristo members are known for always attending their ceremonies every week.

“I ask our brothers and sisters from the INC in Davao to please stop attending your ceremonies,” Duterte said.

Even on social media, some INC members said that no one could stop them from attending their worship.

But some of them said that they’re following the social distancing measures.

“Walang anuman o sinoman, maka pipigil sa aming paglilingkod sa Diyos! Tuloy tuloy parin kami sa aming pagsamba sa gitna man ng pangamba na mga lumalaganap na sakit!
Kami ay mga Iglesia Ni Cristo!” Kriztoffer Kantoz said.

“INC has always been very supportive of the Government programs as long as it does not interfere with our faith, especially our freedom of worship,” Wally Cuarto stated.

“Kung may masamang mangyari sa amin tulad ng digmaan, baha, salot o taggutom, haharap kami sa TEMPLONG ITO upang humingi ng tulong sa iyo sapagkat dito ka sinasamba, tatawag kami sa iyo, papakinggan mo kami at ililigtas sa panahon ng aming kagipitan. (2 Cronica 20:9) BMBB” he added.

Iglesia ni Cristo is not yet releasing a statement on the request of the Davao City Mayor.

Despite the dangers of being infected by COVID-19, President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the boundary of Valenzuela-Meycauayan along MacArthur highway to check the condition of the stranded commuters who were caught by the start of the community quarantine of Luzon.

In a video posted by GMA News, Duterte was shown arriving without wearing a face mask, and his only protection against COVID-19 are the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who are ensuring that no one is going to get near the President.

Duterte went there to order the military and the police to let the stranded people pass the checkpoint.

According to some reports, some workers became stranded since 12 AM, the time when the Luzon community quarantine became effective.

Sa utos ng pangulo, pinadaan ng mga pulis at sundalo ang mga taong naabutan ng lockdown | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/918zf8i0us

— GMA News (@gmanews) March 16, 2020

Around 1:30 AM, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian also went to the checkpoint to ask the Meycauayan Chief of Police to let the people stranded to go home.

However, it seems that the Mayor failed to convince the cops.

Thousands of passengers are still stranded in different places in Metro Manila because of the community quarantine in Luzon.

According to the recent order of the government, all mass transportation in Luzon should stop during the quarantine period, that’s why many passengers who are residing in provinces but working in Metro Manila were trapped inside the nation’s capital.

Aside from stopping mass transportation, the government also ordered all establishments to close down except banks, hospitals, groceries, pharmacies and other businesses that providing the basic needs to the people.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development was also ordered to distribute food assistance to residents in Luzon who will be most affected by the quarantine.