More donations prompt villagers to give more

By Lilibeth A. French

Generous gestures inspired a village chief and residents to move and face together the unpredictable disruptions caused by corona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19).

Punong Barangay Rodlen Gallenero of Hibao-an Sur, Iloilo City said that just like the other villages in this city, they were affected by the sudden turn of events arising from the COVID 19 threat.

He gratefully acknowledged the generous actions and support extended by kind-hearted individuals and groups from his village and the city government at this time when the whole city and province of Iloilo are placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

With the implementation of the ECQ, travel has been restricted, work suspended and social distancing enforced as measures to prevent further spread of the disease.”100 percent, I am overwhelmed by their support”, said Gallenero of the donors.

He said everyday, residents offer not only their services but also donations ranging from snacks, noodles, sacks of rice, face masks and even cash to help fellow villagers cope with this public health challenge.

Residents volunteer to repack the goods donated and purcahsed from the village’s calamity fund which Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas urged them to make use of.

On March 30, in his message, President Rodrigo Duterte tasked local chief executives and village chiefs to distribute money and relief goods as the country faces the spread of COVID-19.

On the other hand, there are also residents who volunteered to distribute the relief goods and cooked food from the barangay’s community kitchen to households in the barangays in compliance with the directive of Trenas to strictly implement social distancing.

Day care teachers, Pantawid Pamilya leaders and other residents are also brought together to help prepare and cook food provided by the city government and donors for their community kitchen, one of the 240 community kitchens being run by the city government.

Gallenero said he is overwhelmed by the kindness and support of generous individuals and groups and urged them to strictly observe preventive measures to protect themselves against COVID-19.

Iloilo City has three persons who have COVID-19, as of March 31, 2020 based on an update from the Department of Health 6. Of the three, one succumbed to death on Tuesday. (laf/PIA6-Iloilo)