In five barangays of Valenzuela City, 130 urban poor families each received P1,500 unconditional cash grant for food and other basic needs from community leaders of people’s organizations and non-government organizations. 

The families live in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Barangay Bagbaguin, Barangay Paso de Blas, Barangay Dalandanan, and Barangay Coloong. 

The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) enforced in Metro Manila starting March 17, 2020 slashed the sources of livelihood of these families, many of whom are public transport workers, daily wage earners, and vendors. Some are one-person households; some are elderly couples; some have family members with disability. 

Despite restrictions on mobility, the community leaders of Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima (AKKMA) and Valenzuela People’s Organization Network (VALPONET) managed the whole process. They monitored the community, selected beneficiaries, and ensured proper implementation and communication, while practicing physical distancing. 

The cash grant was distributed through scheduled pay-out via Palawan Express’s branches. 

“During crisis response, we would usually conduct community needs analysis, then meet for planning and implementation. But our situation now is very different, so we took this opportunity to strengthen AKKMA and VALPONET so they could pilot a community-managed humanitarian action like this during an ECQ,” explained Mr. Benedict Balderrama, national coordinator of the Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA). 

This relief assistance came from the Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI), through an initiative by PHILSSA and the Foundation for the Development of the Urban Poor (FDUP).

By: Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA)