Amid COVID-19 crisis, IBP urges lawyers to donate 1 month’s wage to needy families

MANILA, Philippines – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Thursday asked its members to donate one month of their salary to needy families in their communities who have been adversely affected by the enhanced home quarantine regulation imposed by the government.

“We ask Filipino lawyers to please consider giving one month’s wage to a needy family/ies in your community so that they need not go out for survival. The amount may be considered an advance for future work, a loan, or a donation,” read the IBP’s statement signed by Atty. Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa, National President and Chairman of the Board of Governors.

IBP is a mandatory organization of lawyers in the Philippines composed of over 50,000 members.

Cayosa said aside from giving free legal advice on rights and duties on quarantine, advocating for appropriate government action, expressing appreciation for the health emergency frontliners, commiserating with the poor, staying home and praying, IBP president Cayosa believed that the lawyers could offer more to society.

He said the lawyers can also give donations to charities that have the capacity and credibility to provide “pantawid” food and basic necessities to poor families so they would not have to leave their homes and breaking the home quarantine order of the government, just to earn a living and support their families.

During the suspension of mass transport because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the lawyers can also lend their vehicles or take on the temporary sideline work of being drivers and provide transportation to health care workers and other emergency frontliners.

They could also convince other family members, friends and clients to extend help to those in need.

“If all who can afford to stay in the comfort and security of their homes and comply with the quarantine protocols lend a helping hand to those who cannot, the quarantine will most probably work and COVID-19 will be contained. More will be happy because they helped or they were helped,” Cayosa added.