By Jel Santos
To help them cope with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 500 families from the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong were given financial assistance by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Friday, June 12.
Philippine Red Cross (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Each of the families received P3,500 to help them during these trying times, PRC said.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said the cash assistance is only preliminary. “Ultimately, ikakalat namin ito sa mga pinakanatamaan,” he added.
Social distancing, according to the humanitarian organization, was strictly implemented during the distribution of the cash aid in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong, and Barangay West Crame, San Juan.
"To ensure that quarantine protocols and guidelines are being followed, PRC has implemented a '50 beneficiaries per batch' rule to prevent crowding and to observe social distancing," it noted.
As such, PRC said they required the beneficiaries to wash and disinfect their hands a part of their precautionary measures. Gordon said they are also eyeing to give assistance to marginalized vendors, drivers, and "no work no pay" employees.
Giving cash assistance will give beneficiaries the liberty to buy what they really need, the PRC chairman said.