Brian Poe-Llamanzares looked back at another challenging year that was, as he celebrated his birthday Thursday preparing another batch of relief goods that were distributed to jeepney drivers, delivery riders, health workers, and senior citizens.
“The Panday Bayanihan foundation was established in response to Typhoon ‘Maring’ in 2013 that affected 2.5 million Filipinos. Since then, it has been our mission to send relief in times of calamity and now also send aid to frontliners and the vulnerable during the pandemic,” Poe-Llamanzares said.
As the Chairman of the Panday Bayanihan Foundation, Poe-Llamanzares conducted a total of 269 relief operations in the last year alone as thousands of masks, gloves, personal protective equipment PPE suits, face shields, test kits, and gallons of alcohol were distributed.
On top of this, a total of P600,000 of cash assistance, 15,000 relief packs, and 2,000 sacks of rice were given out by his team during the pandemic.
“Celebrating my birthday in quarantine the second time around, I want to do it in the most meaningful way I can think of — giving back to the groups we’ve been working closely with in the past year,” Poe-Lllamanzares said.
Poe-Llamanzares serves as the Chief of Staff of the Office of Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services. One of their office’s main stakeholders include jeepney drivers who are among the hardest-hit sectors in the pandemic.
Poe’s office then made sure that P5.58 billion was allotted for jeepney drivers in the Bayanihan 2 bill and ensured there will be no jeepney phaseout during the pandemic.
“The pandemic has brought out the best and worst in all of us, but I’ve seen a lot of the good arise in the darkest of times. Hangga’t sa may nagmamalasakit at handang tumulong, may pag-asa,” said Poe-Llamanzares.
