Vice President Leni Robredo’s office continues to provide assistance to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic as it turned over 15 bicycles to construction workers.
Robredo led the turnover of the bicycles on Sunday, March 8, at the Quezon City Reception House, where she holds office. She spoke to the recipients, mostly construction workers from Muntinlupa City.
“Ang trabaho nila dito sa Muñoz, so grabe iyong ginagastos nila araw-araw. Iyong walang panggastos, naglalakad. So binigyan natin ng bikes, at sobrang happy sila (They work here in Muñoz, so they have big expenses everyday. Those who can’t afford their expenses have to walk. So we gave them bikes, and they were so happy),” she said in her radio show over dzXL after she handed over the bicycles.
Apart from the construction workers, some security guards and a worker in a machine shop also received bicycles from Robredo’s office.
Private partners of Angat Buhay, Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty project, donated the bicycles.
The beneficiaries were also given washable leather face masks by other donors.
The vice president said that while there are others who were able to go back to their livelihood, some remain unemployed.
The problem, however, is the lack of public transportation options. The workers have to take several public utility vehicles before they reach their destination.
“Karamihan sa kanila, tumugon lang kami sa mga messages sa Facebook. Pero hindi lahat, ng humihingi sa Facebook nabibigyan kaagad, kasi nagkakaroon kami ng parang background check, kasi siyempre limited iyong mga bisikleta (We responded to most of them on Facebook. But not everyone who requested on Facebook were given because we conducted a background check since the bicycles were limited),” she said.
Robredo’s office has also been providing assistance to those in need in far-flung areas as part of its locally funded projects.
Just last Friday, March 4, it turned over a mobile clinic for those living in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.