PNP extends support to indigents amid COVID-19 lockdown

CALOOCAN CITY, April 20 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has extended support to indigent families by means of its “Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko!” Adopt a Family Program by enjoining all police officials, and well-off families to help the poor better adapt the ongoing stricter lockdown measures.

The 205,000-strong PNP force led by PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa called on all police officers in the country to adopt an indigent family in their respective areas of responsibility by providing them with food packs, grocery items, and financial assistance good for at least one week.

“As the PNP expressed its support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to implement a total lockdown to impose law and order for the good of the country and of the people; we recognize the hardship of poor families particularly those who have no permanent residences,” Gamboa said.

This “Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko!” program is an initiative of the PNP to augment the government Social Amelioration Program as it aims to support countless indigent families throughout the country whose health and well-being is at risk particularly during stricter enhanced community quarantine measures.

As of April 19, 2020, a total of 96,459 indigenous families have been adopted by participating PNP personnel throughout the country in which they voluntarily shared in cash and in-kind almost P47 M with an average of around P500 per family.

“To all our PNP personnel, let us share whatever we can to sustain indigent families in our communities as we strictly enforce law and order during this lockdown. Let us also encourage other families who are capable to help the “poorest of the poor” for us to finally halt the spread of our common enemy – COVID-19. Our law enforcers will assist in the distribution of donations from good Samaritan Filipinos,” Gamboa said.

Various forms of donations have been done by police officers throughout the country like distribution of goods and essentials, provision of food and drink packs, grocery items, sanitation and disinfecting materials, providing temporary shelter or even giving money.

“We all recognize that the best way to beat our invisible enemy is by strictly staying at home to prevent the transfer of the contagion and to save our health care system from being overwhelmed by victims of this Pandemic,” the official said.

“Thus, on behalf of all our PNP personnel, we enjoin all Filipinos to express our patriotism and put into action our Bayanihan by helping poor families in your communities as we brace for a stricter lockdown for our country to finally win this War vs COVID-19. We will be strictly enforcing the law but will leave no family behind because together, We Heal as One Filipino Family. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas and God Bless us All!” he added. (PIA NCR)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039538