Mayor Sara: No panic buying, hoarding under ECQ

No panic buying. Don’t hoard.

This was the call of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to Dabawenyos as she puts the city under a stricter 14-day Enhanced Community Quarantine starting Saturday, April 4, 2020.

Mayor Sara said panic-buying and hoarding are not necessary when Food and Medicine (FM) passes are already provided for the entire ECQ period.

The mayor was prompted to reiterate her call following reports that some people are hoarding and panic buying in supermarkets. She also cited the long queues in markets just like during the first declaration of the Community Quarantine that defeats social distancing.

She assured the people that grocery shops and wet markets will remain open under ECQ.

“Wala sila’y rason nga magpanic because open gihapon ang grocery. Kung naa mo’y FM pass, dili namo kailangan mag-hoard (They have no reason to panic because grocery stores are still open. If you have FM pass, you don’t need to hoard),” she stressed.

Mayor Sara said FM passes are being distributed through barangay captains and purok leaders. FM pass allows a member of the family to buy food and medicines when needed.

“This is the very best time nga mag-practice mo’g pugong sa inyohang kaon pinaagi sa fasting because it’s the Season of Lent, and this is the best time to think about your health (This is the very best time to practice eating less by fasting because it’s the Season of Lent…),” Mayor Sara said. CIO