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'Lugaw' non-essential? Palace says food deliveries allowed '24/7' even during ECQ

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<p>MANILA — Food deliveries are allowed &quot;24/7&quot; even in areas under the strictest quarantine level, Malacañang said on Wednesday, following a viral video that spawned questions on the rule. </p><p>The video shows an unidentified woman reprimanding a delivery rider, saying the &quot;lugaw&quot; or rice porridge he was set to deliver was not essential. &quot;Mabubuhay ang tao nang walang lugaw,&quot; she said. The woman also cited night curfews.</p><p>(People can live without rice porridge.)</p><p>The enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal bans non-essential movement to curb a surge in COVID-19 infections. </p><p>The inter-agency task force leading the country&#x27;s pandemic response earlier said &quot;food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, but limited to take-out and delivery&quot; can operate at full on-site capacity during ECQ. </p><p>Clarifying the directive, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said, &quot;Twenty-four/seven ang delivery.&quot; </p><p>(Food deliveries can operate 24/7.) </p><p>Asked if he meant hours in which food deliveries can operate, he said in a phone interview, &quot;Oo.&quot; </p><p>(Yes.)</p><p>&quot;Lugaw, or any food item for that matter, is considered an essential good. Delivery of food items must remain unhampered 24/7. Huwag natin harangin sa checkpoints,&quot; Roque&#x27;s office added in a statement. </p><p>(Let us not bar them at checkpoints.)</p><p>The interior department earlier urged homeowners groups to let food deliveries enter subdivisions, as these would allow people to stay home and reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure during food runs. </p><p>&quot;We highly encourage our different homeowners’ association, do not impede the movement of food delivery sa inyong mga (in your) subdivision,&quot; Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said on Monday. </p><p>The rider in the viral video appears affiliated with ride-hailing and delivery platform Grab, which he mentioned in the clip. </p><p>On its social media account, Grab urged the public to thank riders for ferrying essential needs and &quot;for always following rules and guidelines whenever, wherever.&quot; It also offered a promo code for free delivery.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/GrabPH/photos/a.540938269295853/4054776174578694" data-width="auto"> </div><div> </div><p>Metro Manila and its 4 surrounding provinces were placed under ECQ until April 4. The strictest of 4 lockdowns, ECQ allows only select industries to operate at full capacity, and bans mass gatherings. </p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte will <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/21/ecq-extension-task-force-to-meet-saturday-on-quarantine-classifications">decide</a> on Saturday on whether or not to extend the ECQ.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1649876" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Food deliveries are allowed "24/7" even in areas under the strictest quarantine level, Malacañang said on Wednesday, following a viral video that spawned questions on the rule.</p>

Food deliveries are allowed "24/7" even in areas under the strictest quarantine level, Malacañang said on Wednesday, following a viral video that spawned questions on the rule.