Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte.
DAVAO CITY --The city government here rolled out a food assistance initiative for employees of business establishments that are not yet allowed to operate under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
In a radio interview on Friday, Mayor Sara Duterte said the displaced vendors, massage therapists, and manicurists previously working in Osmeña Park and Roxas Night Market will be given food packs from the city government.
First to receive the food rations are 1,631 workers of karaoke bars, salons and spa, hotels and inns, kids and amusement establishments, garments and dress shops, restaurants and food stalls, a church group, a private school, and a group of masseurs.
Duterte said employers may also reach out to the city government through its Davao City Reports or the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) official page to help their workers get government assistance.
“They can also directly send their request to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), as they are still reaching out to more affected workers of establishments that are still not operating,” she added.
Meanwhile, Duterte said she has coordinated with Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chair of the Finance Committee, to request all financial institutions such as banks and cooperatives to offer short-term loans to all small businesses at low-interest rates.
Ideally, she said the loans should be payable within two years to help stimulate the local economy.
Dayanghirang said they also plan to encourage pawnshops and other financial conduits to explore the restructuring of loans, waiving surcharges and late payment interests, and extending other payment terms to their borrowers affected by the community quarantine.
“The good mayor is very firm in her leadership to ease the burden of our businessmen and that our government can do something to always provide hope in this trying time of Covid-19, which until now has still no cure,” Dayanghirang said.
The councilor said he is set to conduct consultations next week with industry representatives to tackle the initiative. (PNA)
