Philippine Canadian Inquirer (National)
Bela Padilla opens donation drive for street vendors affected by community quarantine
ACTRESS BELA Padilla arranged an online fundraising event for the street vendors whose source of income were affected by the community quarantine implemented in Metro Manila due to the fastspreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
The Kapamilya actress took to Twitter her concerns for the street vendors who survive on daily wage and how will they be able to provide for their basic needs during the Metro Manila community quarantine in a series of posts.
“How do the taho, sampaguita, chips and basahan vendors we see on EDSA who probably sold close to nothing today eat tonight. And tomorrow? And the whole month? Is there anyone I can go to, to talk about this and hopefully help out? :).” Padilla said in a Twitter post on Sunday, March 15.
The actress also asked if there are agencies that can accommodate food donations for employees who are temporarily suspended at work due to the quarantine and weren’t able to save money for a month.
A few minutes after the tweets, the Miracle in Cell No. 7 actress announced that she set up a crowdfunding website via gogetfunding.com where people can put in their donations for the urban poor.
“The best solution I came up with is for us to donate. I set up an account, and whatever money we do raise, let’s split 16 ways for the 16 cities of Metro Manila affected by this community quarantine. I will personally see to it that the money we raise will go to the right people,” she wrote.
Padilla named the donation drive “Pagkain Para Sa Pinoy” and encouraged her followers to support the cause.
“Please help and share this link and let’s try to hit or surpass the target in one week because our local workers have all already been affected starting today thank you. Twitter, let your magic work please,” wrote the Kapamilya star.
The fundraising aims to hit P1 million and will be available until March 31. As of Tuesday, March 17, the campaign has raised ₱760,735.
“During this inevitable pandemic, there will be a lot of Filipinos who won’t be able to rely on their normal sources of income. Our favorite taho, dirty ice cream and bananacue vendors wont be able to secure enough money to guarantee food for their families at the end of the day for one month until our community quarantine is over. Let’s look out for them please and donate what we can and lets split the money we raise 16 ways for the 16 cities of Metro Manila affected by this temporary lockdown,” the Gogetfunding description said. ■