Amid nCoV scare, Bianca Manalo reminds people to refrain from panic-buying
With the increasing numbers of nCoV cases in the Philippines, Filipinos flocked to local supermarkets to buy in bulk hand sanitizer, toilet paper, cleaning products, and other goods. Well, this comes as no surprise amid this looming global pandemic, however, is this rational? Former beauty queen Bianca Manalo have noticed this alarming behaviour Filipinos in dealing this kind of health crisis. In her Instagram post, she urges her followers to refrain from panic-buying of sanitation supplies and other consumer goods amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
Read her statement below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9io8mkHeq2/?utm_source=ig_embed
“PLEASE PLEASE do not hoard,” she started her message.
“Pity our fellow Filipinos who live on their daily wages, who can only afford to buy what they need when they receive their daily or weekly salaries. When they go to buy their needs, the shelves will be empty.
“I hate to say it but it’s the upper class that will cause the shortage, and could cause price increases. Pantries will be full in the exclusive villages, while the poorer man will have little choices,” she added.
On the other hand, prior to this, Department of Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told grocery-hoarding frenzy was “unnecessary” despite the rise in cases of COVID-19 in the country.
“Ang dami pang laman ng mga grocery. Hindi kailangan mag-stockpile,” said Lopez.
“Monitored natin ang prices lalo na ang basic necessities… ‘Wag magpanic at huwag ubusin ‘yung laman ng grocery. Hindi kailangan,” he added.
Currently, the Philippines is placed under a state of public health emergency as more individuals, mostly in Metro Manila, were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.
