Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s aid initiative Sampung Libong Pag-asa on Monday selected 30 more recipients for the program, this time from the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) community.
The program, which aims to provide struggling households with financial opportunities as well as immediate relief, gives P10,000 in cash assistance to selected beneficiaries.
Ten beneficiaries each were selected from the Municipality of Bolinao (Pangasinan), Iloilo City, and General Santos City on October 4. An additional 20 beneficiaries were selected from Facebook commenters.
“Bakit natin to ginagawa? Una, dahil ito’y tama. Ito’y utos ng Diyos. Pangalawa, because we can help people,” Cayetano said.
(Why are we doing this? First, because this is what is right. This is the command of the Lord. Second, because we can help people.”
TODA communities across the country have suffered great economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of registered associations significantly decreasing in 2020.
This is not the first time Cayetano has developed a project to provide assistance for TODA communities. His Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) Kontra 5-6 project provides transport groups and other financially vulnerable sectors with access to capital at very low interest rates to provide an alternative to payday loans and loan sharks.
TODAs in Taguig also have the TODA-JODA Pasada program in which drivers are given a year’s worth of PhilHealth coverage plus free medical and dental services.
Monday’s episode featured the story of Edwin Gundale, a former tricycle driver from Marilao, Bulacan who was able to build a new business after being chosen as a beneficiary on May 28, 2021.
