Help Manila’s urban poor affected by lockdown

HELP THE POOR AFFECTED BY MANILA LOCKDOWN

For more than a month now since a lockdown was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte, a large segment of Manila's urban poor suddenly find themselves with nowhere to go. The extended general community quarantine spells the death knell for most as they are paid on a daily basis. No work, no pay which translates to nothing to eat. About 99% of Manila's urban poor have no savings and depend on a hand-to-mouth existence in order to survive.

About 50 families of St. Jude St. in Barangay Moonwalk Paranaque City near the Manila airport illustrate the hardship of life under the COVID19 quarantine. Clifford, father of four young kids, says it only takes a daily budget of $5 for his family to survive but now, there's nothing as he cannot even go out. Even the promised canned goods from the local government has not arrived. Greg, another family man, said he used to sell fruits and fish in the wet market but now no more because of limited freedom of movement and the partial closure of the market itself.

By Western standards, $10 is what one would spend on a cup of coffee in a day.But back in the slums of the Philippines, the same amount can already feed two families with children on a modest budget. Feeding hard-up families can only go so far if you believe in the saying "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

With everyone's kind donation, we aim to buy sacks of rice for affected families, canned goods, toiletries, repair the roof over their heads, buy bags, educational toys and books to cheer up the children. Cash is badly needed so we will be handing out an average of P2,000t toP5, 000 per family to tide them over the next couple of months.

We hope you consider that your cup of coffee can help a hungry and desperate Filipino family today. It will make a lot of difference and will be much appreciated.

ABOUT THE FUNDRAISER:

Annalyn Jusay is a Manila-based lifestyle blogger, business owner and six-figure e-commerce seller in Amazon and other American marketplaces. She is a silent community volunteer and donor supporting projects related to literacy and livelihood projects for single parents. Her other interests are travel, Tiktok, cooking and fitness.