23 March 2020
To Our Church Networks:
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? (Jeremiah 8:22)
Certainly, the poor ones are among the most vulnerable in the on-going COVID-19 outbreak. The recent Enhanced Community Quarantine approach of the government had brought more confusion and deep burdens on the poor. Even daily wage earners who “cross borders” to work as vendors, construction workers, industrial workers, have been trapped in a policy that would turn them into “violators” of Republic Act No. 11332.
People on the ground are not accessing the “promised” relief packages from the local government. We have received appeals from urban poor and workers communities in Metro Manila particularly Valenzuela and Navotas City. The community quarantine imposed by the government hinders their daily mobility to work. People are hungry and praying for help.
In solidarity with the urban poor and workers communities which we have our partner organizations, we appeal for your generosity. We plead for immediate assistance in order to respond to families who are not able to meet basic needs of their families. As we knock at the door of your compassionate hearts, we invite you to share in solidarity with families who live by scavenging, laundry work, construction, selling vegetables, pedicab or tricycle driver, barangay volunteer and other odd jobs. We will continue our efforts to join with them as they continue to seek justice and positive change for their communities. However, at this time, they very much need immediate relief from worries and anxieties and for some families’ pangs of hunger.
We would like to provide each family with 10 kilos of rice, canned goods, ½ kilo mongo, 1 pack of biscuits, and toiletries. The estimated amount per pack is P750.00.
We know that this will not solve the problem of COVID-19; still, for us to collectively “flatten the curve” and “slow the spread,” we should be worried about everyone. At the very least, this support will relieve families from thinking where to get the next meal, so that they can try to find other means and work together to sustain their needs.
We hope and pray that we can share again our generosity and concern to the least of our brothers and sisters. You may issue check in the name of KASIMBAYAN or Church People – Workers Solidarity Inc. Or you can deposit directly to: Church People-Workers Solidarity Inc., account number 3143-4239-39, BPI Kamuning branch. Please inform us if you deposited the donation through number 09421986383 or 09475891311 or email address churchfortheworkers@gmail.com.
May God keep us rooted in sound and wise thinking, as we demonstrate love, compassion, and concern for the elderly, poor and vulnerable in this time of novel Corona Virus! God is with us! God is waiting for us!
