Vico Sotto vows financial aid for vendors, drivers in Pasig affected by enhanced community quarantine

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday vowed that financial assistance would be extended to vendors, jeepney and tricycle drivers, and other residents in the city who could not work amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

At a press briefing, Sotto said workers who could not go to their respective jobs was the main challenge in his jurisdiction, which already has 14 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"Pinakamalaking hamon ay hindi nakakapagtrabaho ang karamihan sa ating nasasakupan. Although naiintindihan naman po nila na kailangang gawin ito pero siyempre, oras na nagutom na ay problema po talaga..." Sotto said.

"Kaya bumili po tayo ng food packs, susunod na po diyan ay 'yung financial assistance na bibigay po natin sa mga hindi makapagtinda na vendors, pati sa mga tricycle drivers or jeepney drivers po natin," he added.

When it comes to transportation, Sotto admitted that it is still one of their problems, but said that various solutions are being implemented to transport frontline workers, especially the health personnel.

Sotto said bicycles and electric scooters are already being utilized in Pasig City.

"Tuloy-tuloy naman po tayong nakikipagugnayan sa DILG at sa ating national government. Sa transportasyon naman po, nakakapag-provide naman po kami doon sa mga health workers. Although aaminin ko, medyo challenge pa rin po lalo na doon sa mga pasyente na may regular na treatment pero nagagawan naman po ng paraan..." Sotto said.

Earlier, Sotto provided some 400,000 food packs and 8,000 bottles of vitamins to Pasig City residents. Each food pack contains the following: three kilograms of well-milled rice, two cans of sardines, two cans of corned tuna, two cans of corned beef and two cans of meat loaf.

The Pasig City local government also set up a community kitchen which will serve hot meals for frontline workers amid the mandatory quarantine. — RSJ, GMA News