SAN MATEO, Rizal - A 24-year old resident in this town used the cash aid she received from the government to open a small business to cope with a Luzon-wide lockdown aimed at containing the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Joverly Arellano told ABS-CBN News on Thursday that her computer shop closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown that started last March. Her husband, a construction worker, has been stranded in neighboring Pampanga and unable to send her money. Arellano said she received P6,500 from the government, half of which she used to buy meat, noodles and other ingredients for selling take-out breakfast meals like "pansit."
LOOK: 24-year old Joverly Arellano of San Mateo, Rizal receives her 6,500 social amelioration benefit and proceeds to the market to buy ingredients for her take-out breakfast business. Arellano's small computer shop remains closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. pic.twitter.com/qJ3yDjDI79Some 18 million poorest families nationwide stand to get P5,000 to P8,000, depending on their region, from the national government.
San Mateo Mayor Tina Diaz said that while she was thankful for the cash aid, the local government needed more help from the national government because her town's quick response funds used for relief goods are almost depleted. "Pareho kami ng sentiments ng iba nating local chief executives... Parang nanay ano, gusto niyo lahat ng anak ninyo talagang mapagbigyan at maging pantay-pantay din ho hangga’t maari,” Diaz said.Virginia Villanueva, 75, is among those who have yet to get cash aid.