A Grab driver whose checkpoint ordeal led to the official clarification that lugaw and all food on delivery are essentials during the lockdown said delivery riders are also frontliners.
Millions stay at home, helping stop the spread of COVID-19, because they can order food through their apps, Marvin Ignacio told PEP.ph.
Ignacio was stalled at a checkpoint by a barangay official who lectured him about essentials and non-essentials that can be moved around during the 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Malacanang said the Grab driver was correct, lugaw is essential.
“Called din kami na frontliners kasi nga po imbes na yung mga tao ang lumabas para bumili ng essential goods nila, kami na lang yung lalabas para sa kanila," Ignacio said.
"As long as nagtatrabaho kami para makatulong po sa ekonomiya natin. Yun po ang pagkakaalam ko kaya everytime na may order, talagang lumalabas ako despite COVID-19," he said.
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Ignacio, who is studying to be an English teacher, took a video of his ordeal which became viral, spawning the trending hashtag #LugawIsEssential and prompting Grab to offer a discount code in his honor. An interior official also hopped on the trend to joke about Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Nung time na ‘yon, ang naramdaman ko para po akong bata na inagawan ng lollipop na walang magawa," he said.
Lugaw, that Filipino comfort food of rice porridge sauteed in garlic, onions and giner, is something that everyone can afford, he said.
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Ignacio said he was allowed to pass through, but his delivery was late. He was also warned that he would be apprehended (dadamputin) the next time. The barangay official ordered the lugaw stall shut, he said.
He said he got a call from Grab's legal department after the incident. While Ignacio will not press charges, he said the lugaw stall owner would.