‘KAPWA KO, SAGOT KO’. A senior citizen in San Rafael village Taft, Eastern Samar receives a pack of relief goods from the Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (ESPMFC) on June 15, 2020. The Philippine National Police in the region on Wednesday (June 24, 2020) said they already assisted 16,516 indigent families affected by the health crisis through its “Kapwa ko, Sagot Ko!” adopt-a-family program. (Photo courtesy of ESPMFC)
TACLOBAN CITY – Some 16,516 indigent families or 81,434 individuals in Eastern Visayas affected by the global health crisis have received relief assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as of June 19.
“We understand how difficult living is nowadays in these back-breaking moments. We sympathize with the community, especially those who have less income to sustain their daily needs,” Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba, PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director said in a statement on Wednesday.
The PNP's nationwide effort dubbed Kapwa ko, Sagot ko! encourages police officers to adopt an indigent family in their respective areas of responsibility by providing them food or financial assistance.
Balba said the initiative began in mid-March and is expected to help more deserving families amid the community quarantine aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
He added they are not only dedicated to safeguarding the communities but also finding ways to ease the burden of some families adversely affected by the pandemic.
“As we face this unseen enemy, may we continue to follow the mandate of the government to stay home. Stay home, save lives,” he said.
A total of 264 checkpoints across the region have been established to control the movement of people and the spread of the virus in the country.
To date, the PNP regional office here has no case of infected police personnel.
Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas has confirmed a total of 431 cases, including 39 recoveries and zero death, according to the Department of Health. (PNA)
