The offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano this week visited the province of Cavite to deliver livelihood assistance to more than a hundred street-based workers.
The senators’ teams collaborated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide aid to streetsweepers, garbage collectors, utility workers, and tricycle drivers in a two-day Bayanihan Caravan.
The first day of the activity was successfully held in the municipality of Noveleta on December 5, 2023 with the help of its local government unit led by Vice Mayor Arlynn Torres, and Councilors Rodel Langit and Dave Manalo.
The beneficiaries in Noveleta received livelihood aid from Cayetano’s office through DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
Among them was Rex Mediran, who has been working as a garbage collector for their barangay over the past 10 years.
“Pinipilit naming magkasya y’ung kinikita ko sa naibebenta kong mga kalakal, ginagamit ko para sa pagkain ng aking pamilya. Y’ung sweldo ko naman ay para sa pambayad ng kuryente,” he said.
He thanked the senators for the assistance, saying he would use it as additional capital for their sari-sari store.
Alex Mediran, a father of nine who earns P3,000 a month as a school utility worker, also expressed gratitude for the aid.
He said he plans to grow his income by selling home-cooked food.
“Maraming maraming salamat po Senator Alan Peter Cayetano at Senator Pia Cayetano sa tulong na ibinigay niyo po sa amin,” he said.
The following day, December 6, the senators’ teams went to the municipality of Silang to provide assistance to Silang Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
The disbursement was held at Silang’s New Municipal Hall in cooperation with Mayor Keven Anarna.
The two-day activity in Cavite was part of the two Cayetanos’ mission to empower underprivileged Filipinos especially in the countryside by providing them access to capital.