Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez has distributed P10 million worth cash vouchers to 10,000 tricycle and pedicab drivers affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
City chief information officer Mario Jimenez said the financial support, which came from the mayor’s personal pocket, is being given to all duly registered tricycle and pedicab drivers including their operators in the city
The P1,000 worth SM gift check can be used in buying daily commodities and foods in Savemore, Hypermart, Alfamart and SM Supermarket which are open in several cities in Metro Manila, according to Jimenez.
The beneficiaries are urged to coordinate with the Traffic and Parking Management Office and Tricycle Regulatory Office or officials of their respective associations.
Around 14,000 members of the city tricycle association and about 1,000 pedicab drivers earn their living on a daily basis, but were unable to ply their usual routes after the enhanced community quarantine started March 17, Jimenez said.
He said the financial relief will enable the affected drivers to buy food for their families. This is on top of the food assistance already being extended by the city government following the lockdown and suspension of transport system in the city.
Aside from cash vouchers, the city government is also working on other programs to help tricycle drivers whose livelihoods have been affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to COVID-19.
