THE Davao City Government might be distributing "ration cards" amid the community quarantine imposed in the city due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Thursday, March 19, that they already ordered the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to prepare these cards, after some local government units in Luzon are currently distributing such cards to every household.
But Duterte-Carpio said it would still depend upon the recommendation of the city's health consultants.
"We are preparing the ration cards already," she said in an interview on 87.5 FM Disaster Radio.
Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, she said CSWDO has already been distributing these cards in times of disasters.
She said the CSWDO is not prepositioning in identifying qualified recipient of the ration cards.
"Atong CSWDO workers, naa sila'y parameters in disasters and calamities kung paunsa mag-identify og mga families nga makadawat og ration cards (Our CSWDO has parameters in identifying families in times of disasters and calamities who will be able to avail the ration cards)," Duterte-Carpio said.
Qualified recipients of these cards, according to the mayor, are indigent and affected families who will feel the economic impact of the virus.
Recipients, she said, must keep these cards as these are non-replaceable.
"Once na muabot ta sa punto nga kinahanglan mag-rasyon, naa na sa ilang mga card (We already planned the distribution of these cards once we saw the need of providing rations)," she said.
"Dili ko gusto nga anha pa ta maghatag og rasyon card kung kanus-a pa ta maghatag og rasyon (I do not want that we will be rushing on giving these cards when the time calls for it)," she added.
She, however, hopes they will not reach the time when the ration cards will be used.
Several media reports stated that some barangays in Luzon are already handing out "home quarantine pass" to every family amid the enhanced community quarantine implemented in the island.
In a Facebook post, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman Erick Lat shared a photo of the pass, which will be issued to every household in Barangay 775 in Santa Ana, Manila.
The pass is transferable to any member of the family and should be carried when buying food and medicine outside the home.