BUTUAN CITY – Households in Bayugan City’s rural barangays have started receiving a sack of rice beginning Tuesday as part of the local government’s relief measures to cushion the impact of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a statement on Thursday (April 9), the Bayugan City local government unit (LGU) said urban dwellers have also started receiving cash aid as part of the city’s relief operations for all its 26,000 households in 43 barangays.

“We will provide one full sack of rice to every household living in rural areas while cash assistance will be provided in the urban barangays of Taglatawan and Poblacion. We provided cash to the urban barangays because we intend to keep the economic flow and activity in the city’s essential market establishments,” Bayugan City Mayor Kirk A. Asis said.

The massive rice distribution that started on April 7 until Thursday has already reached 13 out of 43 barangays. The relief operations will continue until April 14, Asis said.

Barangays covered by the intensified relief operations include Taglibas, San Agustin, Montevista, Verdu, Sagmone, Katipunan, Marcelina, San Isidro, Bucac, Charito, Gamao, Saguma and Salvacion.

The Bayugan City LGU has also expressed gratitude to the members of the local Covid-19 Task Force in the area for the support they provided in the relief operations.

“If this will not be enough for the whole duration of the localized quarantine, we will find a way to sustain our people,” Asis said.

He said the local government has already procured around 27,000 sacks of rice, mostly from local farmers.

Asis said they will soon start the free delivery of vegetables to ensure that residents will have enough food while under the enhanced community quarantine.

“This will provide enough food for all while helping the city’s farmers to earn amid the crisis,” Asis said.

In the same statement, the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) also assured the LGU and the other members of the task force of security support in all activities of the local task force on Covid-19.

The 3SFBn also commended the “decisive, strategic and legal binding approaches of Bayugan City to maintain its economic activity and sustain its constituents amid the world and nation-wide pandemic”. (Alexander Lopez, PNA)