2,000 Pangasinan residents affected by Tropical Storm Maring get aid from Kapuso Foundation

A total of 2,000 residents from the municipality of San Fabian in Pangasinan received aid from the GMA Kapuso Foundation after the onslaught of Tropical Storm Maring.

According to a report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, among the beneficiaries was Joan Narval, 26, who lost various sources of income due to the multiple lockdowns amid the pandemic.

Narval and her husband used to sell souvenirs, operate boats, and catch fish at the San Fabian Open Beach. However, their boat has been damaged from being unused for a long time.

"Talagang naghirap po kami noon. Parang walang makain, walang kita [We really had a hard time then. We had nothing to eat, we had no income]," she said.

With Pangasinan placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) recently, they can now meet tourists again to sell souvenirs. However, they still have no money to have their boat fixed.

"Masakit sa loob ko kasi nandiyan lang siya ta's 'yung ibang mga bangka, nakakapaghanapbuhay pero kami wala [It hurts because it's just there while other boats get to earn money but we can't]."

Their home's roof was also carried away by strong winds brought by Maring, so they make do with few galvanized iron sheets to shelter them.

Through the foundation's "Operation Bayanihan" project, they received relief goods to help them survive amid the hardships they are facing.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation is still accepting donations through bank deposits, Pay Maya, Cebuana Lhuillier, Shopee, GCash, Zalora, and Mega Mart.

For more information, visit GMA Kapuso Foundation's website.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News