"Despite a raging pandemic, we should be someone’s umbrella on a rainy day."
"Despite a raging pandemic, we should be someone’s umbrella on a rainy day."
The past months have been challenging for everyone. In fact, we acknowledge and recognize the difficulties experienced not only by the public, but also by our agricultural and other labor sectors, the business sector, as well as our medical staff and the local employees, officials, and even the police who have been manning the frontlines. There is no easy task in serving and working during this pandemic.
While the battle against COVID-19 has not been fully won, we are yet again facing the looming effects of La Niña. Just this month, successive tropical depressions caused heavy rainfall and flooding in some parts of Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila and Quezon. The torrential rains by tropical depression Ofel flooded areas in Lucena City and Atimonan in Quezon two weeks ago. This week, tropical depression Pepito flooded areas in the municipalities of Buenavista, Catanauan, Lopez, Tagkawayan, and Guinayangan in Quezon.
For this reason, the Provincial Government of Quezon has been extending all the assistance it can possibly provide. Along with the respective local government units of the municipalities and cities in Quezon, we have been continuously rendering public service, delivering personal protective equipment and other medical supplies, and offering assistance to its constituents. As we remain true to our mandate, our LGUs have been doing every possible effort to ensure that public services and basic commodities reach even the most remote areas in their jurisdiction despite the risks since the start of the pandemic.
However, these are not without the help and generosity of the private sector and the national government. If I can speak on behalf of Quezon Province, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the national government for regularly checking on us and fulfilling their roles as our partners in governance and public service. I would like to give credit to the Executive for their timely response to our calls for assistance, particularly in giving cash aid to rice farmers and those qualified beneficiaries of DSWD and local livelihood programs.
I also would like to thank Senator Bong Go for going beyond his legislative duty to help those affected by the recent flashflood. The Provincial Government of Quezon along with the good senator’s office distributed financial assistance, relief goods, food packs, masks, and face shields. He also gave away several mountain bikes to be used by employees going to work and several electronic gadgets to be used by students for school. His Malasakit Centers have been crucial in responding to the present crisis.
At a time like this, as I have repeatedly said in my previous articles, we should extend as much help as we can to those who need it. While we all feel the pinch of the pandemic, if we can give, we should be someone’s umbrella on a rainy day.