The city of Mati in Davao Oriental will start rationing food on Saturday (March 29) to residents whose livelihood has been affected by the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) community quarantine since March 19.

Mati City information officer Ben Jason Tesiorna said Monday the city is preparing 37,000 food packs consisting of rice and canned goods that will be distributed to households identified by barangay officials.

“The supplies were bought outside the city to avoid shortages in Mati,” Tesiorna told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

On top of the 37,000 food packs, he said the provincial government will also provide some 32,000 food packs while Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte donated about 21,000 food packs.

“If this is still not enough, the city government will also be preparing additional 13,000 more food packs,” Tesiorna said, adding the city will devise a way to distribute the food packs to avoid mass gathering.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michelle Rabat urged Matinians to cooperate and wait in their respective houses for any advice from their barangay officials regarding the food ration schedule.

“The distribution will be strictly monitored by the LGU to ensure that those who receive the food packs are really those who need it the most,” Rabat said.

Tesiorna said barangays officials started distributing on Monday the “home quarantine pass” (HQP) to each household that would identify the person tasked with purchasing food, medicines, and other supplies for the entire family.

Officials also called on senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant women not to go out of the house except for emergencies. (PNA)