By Agustin San Andres Jr.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Manuel, Founder of Pantawid Covid Project

Amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Far Eastern University (FEU) alumnus Patrick Manuel spearheaded 'Pantawid Covid Project', an online fundraising drive for the affected street vendors of Sampaloc, Manila last March 17.

In his Twitter account, Manuel explained the purpose of the online drive.

"Ang fundraising na ito ay para sa mga katulad ni Nanay Nene, isang street vendor sa Morayta, Manila, na umaasa lamang sa kakaunting kita mula sa pagbebenta ng bulaklak sa bangketa (This fundraising is for people like Nanay Nene, a small-scale vendor in Morayta, Manila who only depends on selling flowers in the streets for a living),” he stated.

After President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last March 16, Manuel said that many small-scale vendors were affected after classes in schools and universities were suspended.

“Sa ngayon ay hirap ang mga tinatawag nating hawkers/small-scale vendors (nagtitinda ng fish ball—kwekwek, gulaman, atbp., magtataho, nagtitinda ng sampaguita sa simbahan, magbabalot, atbp.) dahil sa community quarantine at temporary lockdown na dulot ng coronavirus disease o COVID-19 (In times like this, hawkers/small-scale vendors suffer due to the community quarantine and temporary lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19),” he added.

In line with this, Manuel urged not only the green and gold community but everyone to donate any amount of money thru bank or GoGetFunding, an online fundraising platform, that will be used in buying necessary supplies such as food, hygiene kits, and vitamins for the affected families of small-scale vendors in Sampaloc, Manila.

“While we are in the comfort of our own homes and families secured with food stock and everything we will be needing, let us not forget the poor and the underprivileged during this time challenging time,” he ended.

As of writing, the crowdfunding initiative has already reached P33,273 since its launch.

With the help of their corporate partners and contacts from Morayta Vendors Association, the procuring and repacking of goods will be held this weekend and will be distributed around University Belt on March 23.