DSWD lauds woman in North Cotabato who waived cash aid to help neighbors

MANILA - The Department of Social Welfare and Development has lauded a woman in the southern province of North Cotabato for declining P5,000 in cash aid from the government to help other residents in her village cope with the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

Whendy Pido, a 28-year-old resident of Magpet town, waived the aid because her husband who was staying at a neighboring village already received government help, said DSWD-Soccsksargen. 

"Mas kailangan ito ng iba pang higit na nangangailangan dulot ng COVID-19 krisis sa aming barangay," the mother of one was quoted as saying by the agency. 

(This is needed more by others who need help in our barangay because of the COVID-19 crisis.)

Pido also noted that those who would accept redundant government aid could face charges. 

"Alam naman natin na lahat ay apektado sa krisis ng COVID-19 pandemic, ngunit nangibabaw pa rin sa puso ni Ginang Whendy ang KATAPATAN ng isang MABUTING mamamayan sa lipunan," DSWD-Soccsksargen wrote on Facebook. 

(We know that everyone is affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, but goodness prevailed in the heart of Mrs. Wendy.) 

Vulnerable families stand to get P5,000 to P8,000 in cash aid for two months under a law passed to address the pandemic. The government allocated P200 billion for the 2-month cash subsidies under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act that gave President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to address the pandemic. 

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