By Martin Sadongdong
At least 283 daily wage earners of the Philippine Army Golf Course (PAGC) have received financial assistance and food items as the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to affect the livelihood of the public, the military disclosed Sunday.
Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, Army commanding general, said activities at the golf were temporarily suspended because of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, thus, affecting the PAGC civilian personnel.
Because of this, the Philippine Army Golf Council and the Army Golf Course raised funds to help the workers.
Gapay said each of the 283 personnel received P3,500 which they can use to buy food stock and other necessities.
They were also given relief goods by the Civilian Military Operations Regiment (CMOR) and actress Bela Padilla who raised over P3 million through an online campaign to help Metro Manila daily wage earners get by amid the strict home quarantine.
Among those who got the assistance were golf maintenance personnel, caddies, tee boys/girls, umbrella girls and other PAGC civilian helpers.
"One of the Army's current thrusts is to give importance to the over-all well-being of everyone in the team Army," Gapay said.
"Whether they are soldiers or civilians, it is the organization's responsibility to take care of all of its personnel especially now that the crisis in COVID-19 is greatly challenging different aspects in our daily living," he added.