Before ordering, the public should make sure that they transact business with legitimate restaurants to guarantee that the food they ordered would not pose health risks, especially those that are offering free door to door delivery.
This according to Monette Montejo, president of Restaurant Association of Puerto Princesa (RAPP) who immediately took on social media to inform the public to be cautious and vigilant before choosing the food being offered by some restaurants in the city.
“Nagulat ako ang dami nag-post na nagbebenta rin sila, dumaan ba to sa sanitation, may permit ba? Ikaw sa sarili mo alam mo kung dumaan ka sa mga inspection at may training,” Montejo said.
She urged the public to check first if the restaurant or food manufacturer has a valid mayor’s permit, and during delivery, to ensure that staff has protective gears and wearing face mask observing at least one-meter distance from the customer, to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Montejo added that the association understands that many want to earn a living, but safety protocols have to be followed especially in handling food, making sure the public ordered food from the legitimate ones and not from ‘fly-by-night’ merchants.
“Yung food delivery should be restricted. Sana nga may permit lang, pero di naman natin mapipigilan ang iba magbenta kasi need nila kumita para sa family nila. I understand naman,” Montejo added.
She emphasized that ordering food from those legit restaurant operators is a plus for many reasons. Safety is guaranteed, especially on food preparation and handling. Owners are following the rules implemented by the city government, who are also good tax payers and paying benefits of their employees, as mandated by the law.
On her part, Montejo said her resto only allows takeout orders and she welcomes other suppliers who are willing to deliver food to the customer’s residence. This for her is a good way of helping others earn during this challenging moment.
Montejo also appealed to the other members of RAPP to help her spread the love to the frontliners in the community by donating food to the medical workers, of which through this, could ease up the burden these healthcare workers are facing at this time.
“Humihingi sana ako ng tulong sa mga food establishment na let’s spread love. Magbigay tayo ng konti [na] food or drinks sa mga frontliners. Sila yung mga taong need natin ngayon,” Montejo said.
RAPP is now turning three years this 2020 with around 100 members mostly homegrown resto in the city, including commercial restaurants and café. They supposed to meet this March to select new batch of officers, but with the situation right now, they decided to postpone it for the time being.
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