WHITE CLOTH MOVEMENT. Residents in Bani town Pangasinan who opted to give their share of relief goods to indigent town mates are encouraged to hoist a white cloth or shirt at their gates. The town has around 16,600 families. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Gwen Palafox-Yamamoto)
BANI, Pangasinan – Residents here who have more in life are encouraged to donate their share of relief packs to their indigent town mates.
The local government unit (LGU) asked the residents who opted to give their share of relief goods to raise a white cloth or shirt at their gates during the distribution in their community.
In an interview via messenger on Tuesday, Mayor Gwen Palafox-Yamamoto said the LGU relief operation includes all 16,600 families in the town.
“Mahirap, mayaman meron lahat (Rich and poor families, they are all included),” she said.
However, Palafox-Yamamoto said there are a lot of poor families in the town so residents, especially the well-off, are given the choice to waive their relief goods in favor of the indigents.
“Kaya pinapadagdag na lang po namin yong dapat kanila doon sa walang-wala (So, the relief packs of those who waived are added to that of the poorest of the poor),” Yamamoto said.
The LGU also implements a no-contact distribution of relief packs.
On her post on Facebook on March 28, Yamamoto advised her constituents to stay at home and place a chair outside of their residence with their quarantine pass on it. The distributor will place the relief goods on the chair.
The residents will get the packs to ensure no physical contact with other people outside of their residence.
The LGU announces the schedule a day before the distribution for the residents to prepare.
“Try to waive your relief goods and surely you will have more blessings,” Yamamoto added on her post.
She also encouraged her constituents to report if they have not received their relief packs.
She added the relief goods were procured by the LGU while some were donated by individuals and groups.
Each family pack contains two cans of corned beef, two cans of tuna sardines, two cans of sardines, one pack of salt, bath soaps, fish sauce or paste (bagoong), and rice.
The distribution of goods is still ongoing. (PNA)
