Pasig City readies financial aid for workers affected by quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig City local government on Monday said it was preparing to give financial assistance to informal sector workers whose livelihoods were affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

After distributing food packs, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said they are eyeing to give financial aid to vendors, tricycle and jeepney drivers.

“Pinakamalaking hamon ay hindi nakakapagtrabaho ang karamihan sa ating nasasakupan. Although naiintindihan naman po nila na kailangang gawin ito pero siyempre, oras na nagutom na ay problema po talaga,” Sotto said.

(The biggest challenge is that a lot of our constituents cannot work. Although they understand why this needs to be done, the problem is the time when people go hungry.)

“Kaya bumili po tayo ng food packs, susunod na po diyan ay ‘yung financial assistance na bibigay po natin sa mga hindi makapagtinda na vendors, pati sa mga tricycle drivers or jeepney drivers po natin,” he added.

(That’s why we bought food packs. And then we will give financial assistance to vendors who cannot sell their goods and for our tricycle and jeepney drivers.)

Under the enhanced community quarantine, mass transportation was halted to limit the public’s movements as the government addresses the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation.

The Philippines has so far recorded 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 33 have already died.