Palace: Door's always open to those who want to help

Malacañang said its doors are always open to those who want to help out their kababayan (fellowmen), especially those who are affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after GMA host Willie Revillame on Friday donated P5 million for the jeepney drivers who were displaced by the community quarantine and P100,000 each to the families of the four Filipinos who died in the blast in Lebanon.

In a Facebook post, Roque said the Palace is grateful for generous Filipinos like Revillame who are able to think of their fellowmen even during the time of the pandemic.

"We are grateful for people like Willie Revillame, who so generously share their blessings with their fellow Filipinos," he said.

"At a time like this, kailangan magtulungan. Hindi tayo nagsasara ng pintuan sa mga taong gustong tumulong (we need to help each other out. We will not close our doors to the people who want to help)," he added.

In his presser on Friday, Roque welcomed Revillame's donation and assured the TV personality that his donation of P5 million for the jeepney drivers will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Revillame also gave P100,000 each to the families of the Filipinos who died in the Beirut blast this week. Roque told Revillame to address the check directly to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

According to Revillame, it pained him to see jeepney drivers begging on the streets due to the loss of their livelihood because of the pandemic. 

"Sa sarili kong pinag-ipunan, dahil ako naman po ay may trabaho ngayon. Gusto kong tumulong una doon sa mga jeepney drivers (This is from my own savings and because I still have a job now. I want to help first to the jeepney drivers)," he had said.

"Sa tingin ko ito ang mga unang nangangailangan (I think they really are the ones who are in need)," he added.

Roque held his pressers in Revillame's WilTower in Quezon City this week after work at the New Executive Building (NEB) that houses the briefing room in Malacañang was suspended due to the number of COVID-19 cases at the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) main proper.