In an effort to scale up emergency response during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to contain the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Oscar ‘Oca’ Malapitan welcomed partnership with the private sector, a demonstration of the public-private partnership (PPP).

Recognizing the limitations of the city government in addressing the needs of his constituents during the COVID-19 crisis, Mayor Malapitan partnered with the private sector to be able to meet the increasing demand for relief assistance. They need to cover as many families as possible in providing food packs and other services. The value of having PPPs became more significant when food donations from private organizations, business companies and private individuals started pouring in to help more families who are in need.

“Ang suporta mula sa mga pribadong kumpanya, indibidwal at samahan ay malaking tulong upang maihatid natin ang serbisyo para sa mga taga Caloocan. Ang mga donasyon na ito ay ipamamahagi sa mga residente ng lungsod. Pinaalalahanan ko din ang lahat na makiisa at makipagtulungan sa mga paraan kontra COVID-19”, Mayor Oca Malapitan said in one of his posts on his Facebook page.

Hitting two birds with one stone, the PPP helps the city government reach more families with food assistance and at the same time, enabling the city to comply with the Nutrition Cluster Advisory #1, specifically on the inclusion of fresh vegetables in the food packs. The food packs with fresh veggies donated by private organizations were given to families in barangays with the biggest population and with the greatest number of underweight and wasted under-five children. Other items provided to families were fresh chicken, canned sardines, vegetable seeds and other basic commodities. Mayor Malapitan also reminded his constituents to eat vegetables to strengthen the body’s immune system against COVID-19. “Ang mga gulay na inyong handog sa taga Caloocan ay malaking tulong para sa mas malakas na resistensiya ng ating mga residente. Sa ating pagtutulungan, unti-unti ay malalabanan natin ang COVID-19,” said Mayor Oca as he expressed his gratitude to their donors.

The city government is very thankful to Moving Urban Poor Communities in the Philippines Toward Resilience or MOVE UP Project, CARE, ACCORD, Theosophical Order of Service, Rotary Club of Kalookan North, ABS-CBN, King Hard Wheat Flour, Rio Drinking Water Station, Grand Summit Packaging, Filipino – Chinese Business Club, RFM Corporation, Purefoods Corporation, Rebisco Foundation Inc., Ligo Sardines, and former City Mayor Pelayo for their invaluable assistance during this COVID-19 crisis.

With the successful PPP experience of Caloocan City, we hope to see more LGUs partnering with the private sector to meet the needs of their constituents especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. (ELF/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)