By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
Over 17,000 displaced tricycle and pedicab drivers received food relief packs from the city government amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
SPECIAL DELIVERY — Members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) deliver food packs containing rice, milk, instant noodles, canned goods, and seasoning granules to over 17,000 tricycle and pedicab drivers whose livelihoods were affected by the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. (Photos courtesy of the Manila Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN)
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said a total of 3,872 pedicab drivers and 13,233 tricycle drivers were given food packs earlier this week.
Each food pack contains rice, milk, instant noodles, canned goods, and seasoning granules.
Members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) delivered the food packs to each of the drivers' houses.
The drivers also received P1,000 cash assistance under the second tranche of the City Amelioration Crisis Assistance Fund (CACAF).
Domagoso said drivers of public transport vehicles were among the first whose livelihoods were affected by the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Meanwhile, over 275,000 primary and secondary public school students in the city are also set to receive food packs and hygiene kits from the city government.
In his city address Thursday night, the Manila mayor said the food packs and hygiene kits are expected to be delivered to the city by next week.
Following a video conference with officials from the Manila City Schools Division, a total of 107 public school principals were tasked to create a database of their students indicating which barangays they are living in.
The city government will then use this data to deliver the food packs and hygiene kits to the indicated barangays.