The local government of Navotas has launched a Cash for Work program in a bid to help the residents tide over the economic impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
A total of 1,500 workers, mostly drivers and indigent residents, will get hired by the local government for the said program to do various works such as barangay cleanup, urban gardening, tree planting, and other climate change mitigation and adaptation-related activities. They will then receive P4,050 after 10 days of work.
“Many lost their jobs due to business closure or downsizing. That is why we look for ways to lessen the impact of the crisis in our city and on our people,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said in a statement.
The local government said that residents aged 22 to 59, except for pregnant women, are qualified to apply for the program until Aug. 28.
On the other hand, another initiative set by the local government to financially help residents is the distribution of calamity cash assistance to special education (SPED) students.
Some 326 SPED students, who are registered at the city's Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Students Educational Assistance/Scholarship, already received P1,000 each.
“Providing and caring for people who are differently-abled, especially children with special needs, is never easy. The pandemic and the long period of community quarantine made it more difficult, health and money-wise,” Tiangco said.
“We hope the financial assistance they received will help relieve their burdens and motivate them to keep going,” he added.
The Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) realigned P380,000 from its 2020 budget to fund the initiative.
Last June, PWD student scholars also received their January-March cash allowance worth P1,500.