The Manila Times

TRICYCLE, ‘HABAL-HABAL’ DRIVERS GET ASSISTANCE

- JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

SEN. Christophe­r Lawrence “Bong” Go has extended assistance to some 120 tricycle and habal-habal drivers and ambulant vendors from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

In a distributi­on activity held on Thursday, April 15, at the ABC Gym in Iligan City, Go’s outreach team provided beneficiar­ies with meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins.

Due to limited public transporta­tion and the need to commute to work, Go’s team also gave away bicycles to selected recipients. Tablets were also given to another set of chosen beneficiar­ies for their children’s use to better participat­e in classes under the blended learning set up, while some were given pairs of shoes.

The team ensured the relief activity, which was conducted in batches, complied with necessary health and safety protocols to avoid the further spread of Covid-19.

“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon, nasa krisis po tayo dulot ng Covid-19 pandemic. Magtulunga­n lang po tayo, mga kababayan ko. Sino ba naman ang magtutulun­gan kung hindi tayo lang po, mga kapwa nating mga Pilipino (I know time is hard now, we are in crisis due to the

Covid-19 pandemic. My countrymen, let us help one another. Who else will help us but our fellow Filipinos),” Go said in a video call.

He also informed families with medical concerns they may convenient­ly apply for government assistance at the Malasakit Center at the Kapatagan Provincial Hospital in the town of Kapatagan and Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City.

Go continues to offer assistance from his office to any beneficiar­y who requires but could not afford urgent medical treatments or services.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Developmen­t separately provided financial assistance to the beneficiar­ies through their existing programs to assist individual­s in need.

The Department of Agricultur­e distribute­d vegetable seeds while the Technical Education and Skills Developmen­t Authority offered scholarshi­p and training to eligible beneficiar­ies.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment also conducted an assessment of potential beneficiar­ies for their programs.

During the event, Go also thanked the local officials of Iligan City, led by Mayor Celso Regencia and Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, for their untiring service to their constituen­ts amid the pandemic.

Ending his message, he assured the residents all communitie­s will be provided access to vaccines to restore normalcy and protect Filipinos, especially the poor and vulnerable, from the threats of Covid-19.

“Mag-ingat po tayong lahat. Huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil darating po ang mga bakuna para sa inyo, inuuna lang po ang mga frontliner­s, susunod naman po ang mga senior citizens, ang mga indigents, pababa na po ‘yan hanggang mabakunaha­n po ang mga nasa komunidad natin (Let us all be careful. Do not worry because the vaccine intended for you is now coming your way, we are just prioritizi­ng the frontliner­s, then the senior citizens, the indigents, until everybody in the community are inoculated),” he added.

On February 6, Go als o extended aid to 24 families from two barangay (villages) affected by a fire incident in Iligan City.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines