The local government of Quezon City government has acknowledged the efforts made by its Emergency Employment Program (EEP) workers, who "are instrumental in the successful delivery of goods and services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic."

For Mayor Joy Belmonte, these workers served as the city's "support team when we needed more hands on deck, such as when we had thousands of names and data to encode for our Kalingang QC."

“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating programa dahil sa kanila (Our programs continue because of them)," Belmonte said, referring to the 342 displaced workers hired as either administrative staff, encoders, or bus drivers for the city's efforts in handling the COVID-19 crisis.

The workers receive a monthly income of P16,000, after the local government allocated P5 million for the program.

According to Rogelio Reyes, head of the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the workers were hired as administrative staff and encoders for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and Kalingang QC program, and as bus drivers for the Libreng Sakay program. 

“Tapping these displaced workers has allowed us to add reinforcement despite our skeletal workforce, the community quarantine guidelines, and travel restrictions,” he said.