Manila to give COVID-19 positive city drivers, vendors food aid

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday announced that the city government would provide food assistance to families of public transportation drivers, public market vendors, and mall employees who would test positive for COVID-19 through the city’s mass swab testing operations.

In a Facebook Live announcement, Moreno explained that the food aid program came about after several workers who tested positive for COVID-19 expressed concern that they would not be able to provide for their families while quarantined for 14 days.

“Sa mga tricycle drivers, e-trike drivers, jeepney drivers, bus drivers, pedicab drivers, sa lahat ng manininda namin na vendor sa pampublikong palengke at lahat ng mga empleyado ng malls sa Manila, ‘wag na po kayong mangamba. Katulad ng kompromiso ko sa inyo, pipilitin nating yakapin hangga’t kaya nating yakapin. Pipilitin nating maibsan ang agam-agam o pangamba na baka magutom ang inyong pamilya,” he said.

“Sa lahat ng nakapaloob na bilang doon sa ating free mass swab testing program ng lungsod na magpopositibo, ‘wag na po kayong mag-alala. Habang kayo ay nasa quarantine facility at hindi ninyo alam kung may makakain ang inyong pamilya, as we speak today, ang inyong pamahalaang lungsod ay magde-deliver po ng kaunting ayuda para masiguradong may makakain ang inyong mga pamilyang inyong pinagsisikapan na mairaos,” Moreno added.

Among the workers who are qualified for the food assistance are public market vendors, mall and supermarket employees, hotel staffers, restaurant workers, and e-trike, pedicab, tricycle, jeepney, and bus drivers

He said the city government will distribute one sack of rice and grocery items among the families of the workers.

In September, the Manila City government offered free RT-PCR testing for workers and employees of certain sectors working in the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  — DVM, GMA News