DAVAO CITY - The office of the first district Representative Paolo “Pulong” Z. Duterte in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) distributed on June 20 cash assistance to 997 marginalized workers and trike drivers at Davao People’s Park.

 

Based on the data obtained from the office of the congressman, there were 683 workers, mostly solo parent and 314 tricycle drivers who received cash assistance from the government’s assistance program to mitigate the impact of the national health emergency due to coronavirus.

 

Duterte’s representative James Vergara said that the solo parents and the other workers are residents from Talomo A and B, and City Poblacion A and B, while the tricycle drivers are all residents from the first district.

 

Aside from cash assistance, Duterte’s staff also distributed food packs to beneficiaries at the venue. The office has been distributing food packs (3 kgs. of rice, 6 canned goods, and 3 noodles) to PUJ/trike drivers, solo parents, masseurs, and other displaced workers. 

 

“Dunay mensahe si Congressman Pulong, ang iya lang is ampingan nato atong trabaho pinaagi sa tarong na serbisyo (Congressman Pulong encouraged our beneficiaries to take care of their job by doing its best),” Vergara said. 

 

Vergara added that Duterte also thanked the Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for the immediate response to his request.

 

The workers were compensated for 10 days of working on disinfection/sanitation of their houses or dwelling places and the immediate vicinity of their houses based on DOLE’s program the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers #BarangayKoBahayKo. 

The cash assistance received by the beneficiaries, ranging from P3,050 to P3,900 each, depends on the prevailing highest minimum wage in the region, as per DOLE.

 

Meanwhile, Solo parent May Batulat, a resident of Barangay Magtuod, thanked Duterte and the Philippine government for the support they had given to the solo parents and to other displaced workers.

 

“I am also grateful to our first district congressman, Paolo Duterte, daghan salamat po, and to the national government for all their help. This is a big help for us, especially to the single moms,” Ginje Mae Rio said.

 

The distribution of food packs focused on the “poorest of the poor” from all 54 barangays in the first district, Vergara said, adding that Duterte’s office is set to distribute more assistance in the coming next days.