Senator Imee Marcos has warned that disorder and violence may erupt in Metro Manila if dwindling food supplies now felt in marginalized communities are not immediately addressed.
Marcos called on the National Food Authority to open its warehouses stocked with imported rice, the Bureau of Customs to donate container vans of smuggled frozen fish, and officials of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to release Covid-19 test kits and face masks for immediate distribution in Metro Manila.
“Wag nang patagalin yan! Gawin nating priority ang Metro Manila. Dapat i-distribute na ang mga bigas na ‘yan na nabuburo lang sa mga bodega ng NFA. Huwag na nating hintayin pang magutom ang mga kababayan natin na maaring pagsimulan ng kaguluhan,” Marcos said.
Marcos added that Metro Manila mayors with whom she consulted with are ready to designate storage areas for rice coming from the NFA.
“Kawawa talaga ang mga Metro Manila mayors dahil kakarampot lang ang budget nila na nanggagaling sa calamity fund. Paano nila pagkakasyahin ang kakarampot nilang budget sa libu-libong mamamayan na kanilang pakakainin?” Marcos asked.
Frozen fish from the Customs bureau can be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for quick distribution in the metropolis, Marcos added.
“Donate na yan. Asap! At kung gustong makatulong ng Department of Agriculture at Bureau of Fisheries na siyang namamahala sa regulasyon ng importasyon ng isda, maging maluwag sila para makatulong sa taongbayan,” Marcos said.
Daily wage earners, the self-employed, and rank-and-file workers whose incomes have been affected by government measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 have lost the means to provide for their daily needs and must receive government aid immediately, Marcos explained.
