CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — More than 1,400 scavengers in Pampanga received government assistance under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang, providing immediate relief while reinforcing efforts to improve the welfare and livelihood of one of the province’s most vulnerable sectors.
Among the beneficiaries was 59-year-old Loida Basa of Magalang town, who has spent more than two decades collecting recyclable materials to support her family.
Despite rising prices and the physically demanding nature of her work, Basa continues to scavenge in the morning and sell food in the afternoon to support her two children’s education and meet her family’s daily needs.
“I walk four kilometers from our house to town while carrying two sacks of recyclable materials because life is difficult. My husband has no job, so I am the only one supporting our family,” Basa shared.
Basa was among the 1,452 scavengers across the province who received P3,000 in cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), half a sack of rice through the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program, and a pair of slippers.
During the distribution, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda personally met with the beneficiaries and encouraged them to prioritize their health despite the risks associated with their livelihood.
She also announced that the provincial government, in partnership with Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, is exploring repairing and distributing pushcarts to help scavengers transport recyclable materials more efficiently, increase their productivity, and improve their income.
Governor Pineda likewise acknowledged the support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing rice assistance to the beneficiaries.
“Let us thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing each of you with half a sack of quality rice. Let us be grateful to everyone who continues to help us,” Pineda said.
The assistance is part of the government’s continuing efforts to support vulnerable sectors by providing immediate relief while exploring long-term interventions that can improve their livelihood and overall well-being. (Mark Anthony G. Pangan)
