CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- At least 50 scavengers and 10 ambulant vendors received pushcarts and "nego-karts" (business carts) worth P900,000 from the Pampanga Provincial Employment and Services Office (Peso) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Monday, May 15.
Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda together with Peso Chief Luningning Vergara and Dole Provincial Director Arlene Tolentino led the distribution, which is part of the P4-million livelihood program for 2016.
The beneficiaries are from the municipalities of Lubao, Floridablanca, Guagua, Sasmuan, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, Sta. Ana and the City of San Fernando.
Each ambulant vendor was given a single nego-kart which they could use in starting a small business of selling fresh meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, street foods such as fishball, kikiam, hotdog, squidball, salted and raw eggs.
Vergara said the pushcarts provided to the scavengers will also aid in promoting ecological solid waste management by collecting segregated wastes in the province.
Arnold Mercado, one of the pushcart beneficiaries from Sto. Tomas, expressed his overwhelming gratitude to the lady governor.
“Maraming maraming salamat po Gov sa ibinigay nyong ito. Malaking tulong po ito sa aming mga mangangalakal. May sarili na kaming magagamit na sa amin talaga at masasabi na rin naming mabubuhay na namin ang aming pamilya,” he said.
Aside from the pushcarts and nego-karts, Dole intends to provide more livelihood equipment such as sewing machines, starter kits for aircon repair and 12 units of nego (business) trailers to poor kabalens all over the province.
Others who assisted in the distribution were Provincial Administrator Andres Pangilinan Jr., Fourth District board members Nelson Calara and Pol Balingit, Third District Board Member Anianas Canlas, Jr. and Philippine Councilors’ League-Pampanga Chapter President Olga Frances “Fritzie” David-Dizon. (PR)