Group gives free fast food to poor barangays under Luzon lockdown

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) — While the government tries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic with a Luzon-wide quarantine, a group has volunteered to help provide free fast food meals to the most affected communities.

The people behind the Facebok page "Pakainin ang Buong Barangay" has partnered with Jollibee Corporation and Jollibee Foundation in a project seeking to feed residents of poor barangays who may be experiencing hunger under the lockdown.

"People have no jobs and are getting very hungry. We realize this is a drop in the bucket but we need to do something," said Gary Ramirez, who led the initiative.

"We have come to an agreement with Jollibee Corporation and Jollibee Foundation to help out in our own little way. We agreed that Jollibee Foundation will match whatever meals we order for the barangays," the group, with over 800 members, said in one of its posts.

It added that they are continuously coordinating with local government units in identifying households that are the most in need.

"The barangay will pick up in the nearest operational Jollibee and create a procedure of orderly distribution with minimal risks to themselves," the group added.

According to Ramirez, they have already served almost 14,000 meals in urban poor communities since they launched the project last March 22.

The project has so far reached a number of barangays in Marikina, Pasig, Valenzuela City, and San Juan, among others.

Those who would like to donate may visit this page for more details.