Pacquiao eyes sending med mission for OFWs in Hong Kong

Senator Manny Pacquiao said he would send a medical team to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) distressed due to the new wave of COVID-19 infections in Hong Kong if the region's authorities would allow.

“If the Hong Kong government will allow it then we will send a team with a doctor para maasikaso ang ating mga kababayan doon at hindi lamang tutulungan dahil may sakit na COVID kundi maging sa anumang pangangailangan nilang medikal,” Pacquiao said at a press briefing.

(If the Hong Kong government will allow it then we will send a team with a doctor to take care of our countrymen there and not only help them because they have COVID, but also for any of their medical needs.)

Pacquiao expressed concern that in some cases, OFWs were forced out on the streets when employers noticed their COVID-19 symptoms.

"Nararapat lamang na ipakita ng ating pamahalaan ang pag-aaruga sa ating mga manggagawang naghihirap sa ibang bansa para maitaguyod nila ang kanilang pamilya ng maayos at mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan. Huwag nating kalimutan na malaki ang inaambag nila sa ating bayan," Pacquiao said.

(The government should show its care to our workers suffering abroad so that they could support their families well and provide a better future. Let us not forget that they contribute a lot to our country.)

“Malaki ang natutulong nila (OFWs) sa ating ekonomiya at kung wala sila ay baka bumagsak na ang ating bansa sa matinding inflation at recession. Dapat ay ipinakita natin ang pag-aaruga sa kanila at pagmamahal,” he  added.

(They help our economy a lot and without them our country might fall into severe inflation and recession. We must show them care and love.)

P100-K donation in Pateros

At a forum with fire victims, tricycle drivers and other residents in Pateros on Tuesday, a local chief of Barangay Santa Ana announced that Pacquiao donate P100,000 to fire victims.

At a media briefing, Pacquiao clarified that it was not him who was pledging the amountbut a "friend" who refused to be named.

Pacquiao said it was not a case of vote buying.

"Hindi po dahil ‘yung mag-provide ng abuloy po ay hindi naman po sa akin. Sa kaibigan ko," Pacquiao said.

(It is not vote buying because the aid will not be coming from me. It will be from my friend.) —NB, GMA News