The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation turned over relief packs intended for 1,590 jeepney drivers in Manila who were displaced by the pandemic.
Each relief pack contains a pack of rice, canned goods, a face shield, a box of face mask, and soap.
The relief packs were turned over by PAGCOR officials to Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso at the Manila City Hall Friday morning.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo; lawyer Roderick Consolacion, Vice President II, Legal Group; Jimmy Bondoc, Vice President II for Corporate Social Responsibility; Ramon Stephen Villaflor, Assistant Vice President II for Community Relations and Services Department; and Carmelita Valdez, Assistant Vice President II for Corporate Communications Department attended the event.
Jeepney drivers are the hardest hit among public transportation drivers following the suspension of mass transport during the pandemic. While other modes of transport were already allowed to ply their routes, jeepney drivers were the last to be allowed on the road.
This prompted drivers to beg on the street for food and financial help from passing motorists to survive. Others who were evicted from their homes made their jeepneys their temporary shelter.
The Manila city government extended help to the jeepney drivers at least twice in the early stages of the pandemic.