Bagsakan centers ‘only’ for indigents

CEBU, Philippines —  Only indigents and displaced workers in the province will be allowed to buy from the Bagsakan Centers that the Capitol intends to establish in the cities and municipalities.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the Bagsakan Centers will offer basic commodities at the lowest possible price so as to give economically marginalized Cebuanos access to basic goods and commodities including rice, condensed milk, canned sardines, alcohol, washing detergent and the like.

"We will task our municipal social welfare officers and city social welfare officers. Duna man ni sila'y profile. Para ra ni sa mga sa indigents ha. Para ra ni sa mga kabus, para ra pud ni sa mga displaced, sa mga nawad-an ug trabaho. Dili pwede moapil ug line ang nasayod ta nga hilabihang datoa unya moapil ug line ug palit kay kahibaw siyang barato," she said.

The Bagsakan Centers will be set up in each of the towns’ sport centers.

Apart from this, to avoid hoarding, a purchase quota will also be imposed in bagsakan centers. This includes a two-kilo rice purchase for each individual.

Garcia hopes that malls follow the government’ example.

Garcia also met representatives from large supermarkets such as Prince, Save More, Gaisano Grand, Gaisano Capital and Gaisano Metro to inform them that the Capitol will directly be sourcing goods from them.

Rice will be sourced from the National Food Authority.

The Capitol has also urged alcohol manufacturers to limit the amount of alcohol purchases from their active accounts.

"You’re a Cebuano company, help us...akong hangyo, sa karon lang, kuhaa na ang sales records sa kada-account ninyo for the whole year of 2019. I-average na aron masabtan ug unsa gyud ang ilang average consumption," she reportedly told International Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (IPI), a Cebuano pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Apart from this, Garcia also signed Executive Order No. 11 Series of 2020 adopting the price cap on basic goods and commodities set by a resolution by the Provincial Price Monitoring Council (PPMC).

Garcia also warned that an administrative fine of up to P1M awaits establishments that price their products past the price ceiling.

COVID-19 center

Meanwhile, the Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu opened its doors to establish the Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development COVID-19 Center in its satellite school in General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.

DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas and Rev. Fr. Manuel Uy, S.J., SHS-ADC, school president, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the use of the school building.

 Based on the agreement, the DOH shall be in-charge in setting up and maintaining the site, including the necessary manpower complement and logistics, which shall be composed of:

•  Quarantine Area of fifty (50) beds, which may be adjusted when warranted by its necessity;

• Triage Area for patients;

• Temporary Laboratory Facility for testing of Covid-19;

•  DOH Operation Center;

• Equipment, machinery, and related appendices or tools;

• Other functionalities deemed essential for the valid operation by DOH inside the premises.

Meanwhile, a total of 30,000 test kits arrived in Cebu from Korea the other day.  GAN (FREEMAN)