Vendors and small food business owners in Pasay and Parañaque who must temporarily close their stalls because of security measures for the upcoming ASEAN Summit will receive P10,000 each in government assistance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency aims to complete the distribution of financial aid and family food packs to all qualified beneficiaries by Friday, ahead of the regional gathering.
“Bagamat humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa mga naantala ang hanapbuhay dahil sa napipintong ASEAN Summit, ang direktiba ng ating Pangulo,” Gatchalian told reporters during a payout at Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Pasay City on Wednesday.
Each affected vendor will receive P10,000 under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, along with family food packs.
Gatchalian said the agency had distributed assistance to 30 establishments on Sunday and was preparing to provide aid to another 50 vendors during Wednesday’s payout.
He described the temporary disruption of livelihoods as a crisis for small business owners who depend on daily earnings.
“Kasi alam ninyo, yung pag-antala ng livelihood is a crisis situation. Nauunawaan natin na yung hanapbuhay importante iyan so pag hindi sila kumita ng isang araw ay maituturing natin na krisis iyon,” he said.
In Parañaque, the DSWD has identified 1,300 vendors on the Baclaran Church side as beneficiaries. The agency is awaiting the finalized list from Pasay, which was still undergoing validation and was expected to be submitted on Thursday.
Gatchalian said the agency would immediately extend assistance to the vendors once the local government units submit their finalized beneficiary lists.
“Basta lahat iyan matutulungan natin kaagad. Ang direktiba ng Pangulo, bago magsimula ang ASEAN Summit. Humihingi kami ng paumanhin pero sisiguraduhin namin na makakatulong tayo sa kanila sa kanilang mga hanap-buhay,” he said
📷 Media courtesy of Philstar.com
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