Marvin Agustin urges restaurant owners to cook meals for health workers amid coronavirus crisis

Image: Facebook/Marvin Agustin

Marvin Agustin appealed to restaurant owners to prepare meals for hospital staff or their employees amid the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

“To those restaurants worried about their stocks na baka masira (that might become spoiled) during this enhanced [community] quarantine, you can cook and donate to hospitals or your employees,” he said in his Twitter post yesterday, March 17.

To those restaurants worried about their stocks na baka masira during this enhanced communit quarantine, you can cook and donate to hospitals or your employees. Do it now bago wala makinabang.

— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) March 17, 2020

He also stressed that they should do it now, before no one ends up benefiting from the food.

Agustin, who is also a restaurateur, offered to open one of his kitchens to help with Bela Padilla’s effort to deliver food to street vendors whose incomes were hit by the enhanced community quarantine.

Hi Bela. I can open one of my kitchens, lets look for cooks or chefs who can volunteer. That way we can make more food. This an inexpensive approach so you can provide more food. Let me know.

— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) March 17, 2020

“That way we can make more food,” he added. “This an inexpensive approach so you can provide more food. Let me know.”

Padilla appears to have taken Agustin’s generous gesture as he later called for volunteers to help cook food for her initiative. He posted the details of the cooking effort on his Twitter and Instagram pages.

Agustin stated that he will be opening a kitchen at 6109 Albert Street in Poblacion, Makati. He also clarified that he would prefer to have volunteers who live nearby only, so they would not have a hard time getting to the location.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B91c6VPHHuK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While many people volunteered to join the effort, Agustin had to postpone it after developing a fever. He revealed his decision to push back the use of his kitchen when chef Roberto Pengson expressed that he wanted to join the initiative.

Image: Instagram/@marvinagustin

Meanwhile, another chef (@damegram) applauded Agustin’s act, but cautioned him to disinfect his kitchen first and properly screen the volunteers. He also suggested to provide them with proper face masks to keep the cooks safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image: Instagram/@marvinagustin

“@damegram thank you dame for this reminder,” the actor replied. “This is actually the reason why we are having a hard time to mobilize now, plus [I can’t] risk my condition yet.”

“[Hard times] but we [can’t] do more irresponsible things to put more people in danger,” he added.

Prior to offering his kitchen to prepare meals for those in need, Agustin cautioned the public to verify any information about the coronavirus they plan on sharing. He urged them to ensure they share credible information to avoid being sources of fake news.  /ra

RELATED STORIES: 

Marvin Agustin urges everyone to verify info on coronavirus: ‘May responsibilidad tayong lahat’

Neri Naig donates coffee, bread to healthcare workers in Tagaytay: ‘Bayani po kayo’