Barangay chair Hector Forbes with part of rice allocation behind him. Photo by Ernie Esconde
SAMAL, Bataan — The provincial government on Monday started distributing rice to 11 towns and one city as part of its assistance to residents after the province was placed under the enhanced community quarantine Aug. 8 – 22.
Trailer trucks were seen unloading bags of rice of 25 kilos each in barangays Tenejero and Tuyo, Balanga City and Sta. Lucia, Samal.
Punong barangay Evelyn Yuson of Tenejero in Balanga City said they were among the first to be given the rice allocation that they will distribute a bag each to 3,300 households. She said they received 2,000 bags this Monday and the balance of 1,300 bags will be arriving next week.
Yuson said all 25 barangays in Balanga City will be receiving the rice ration but the deliveries will be in batches.
“The rice is part of government’s assistance to the people of Bataan because the province was placed under ECQ,” Yuson said.
Sta. Lucia barangay chairman Hector Forbes thanked Gov. Albert Garcia, Samal Mayor Aida Macalinao, and members of the sangguniang panlalawigan for the 596 bags of rice of 25 kilos each shared to his village.
Forbes said he has requested the governor to please increase the rice allocation to his barangay, there being 890 household-beneficiaries in the village. “Kukulangin ang 596 bags of rice kaya kung maaari po madagdagan sana ito,” he asked the governor. “Per bahay o bawat bubong ang pagbibigay ng bigas.”
During the distribution, he made the appeal to his barangay mates to strictly follow safety protocols because of the existing pandemic and the surge in Covid-19 cases that resulted in Bataan being placed under the stricter community quarantine status.
“Nananawagan ako sa bawat isa na kung maaari ay lubos na makipagkaisa sa guidelines na ipinalabas ng IATF patungkol sa pandemic na kasalukuyang nananalasa sa buong mundo. Kung maaari ay talimahin natin ang social distancing, pagsusuot ng face mask at face shield gayon din ang paghuhugas ng kamay at pag-aalcohol,” Forbes said.
“Sa ganitong kaparaanan ay magiging katuwang tayo ng Punong Panglalawigan upang ang virus na kumakalat sa Bataan ay maiwasan. Kung wala naman kayong gagawin sa labas ng inyong mga bahay, kung maaari ay huwag na kayong lumabas lalong-lalo na ang mga minor at mga senior citizen,” he added.
