DSWD apologizes to vendors affected by ASEAN preps

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has apologized to vendors affected by security measures implemented for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Pasay City, with the agency giving aid to at least 1,462 affected vendors on Thursday.

A number of vendors temporarily stopped from working in several areas in Pasay City and Parañaque City.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian oversaw the payout of P10,000 cash aid to 1,462 affected vendors in Parañaque City.

“Humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga vendors, karinderya, eateries na naapektuhan nitong ASEAN summit. Hindi namin ginusto ‘yung nangyari pero dahil sa security arrangements ng iba't ibang mga pinuno na darating, talagang kinailangan muna nating pansamantalang i-stop ‘yung mga operations,” Gatchalian said in a media interview at the payout.

(We ask for forgiveness from all of the vendors, carinderia, eateries that are affected by the ASEAN Summit. We did not want this to happen but because there are security arrangements by the different leaders coming, there needed to be a temporary suspension of operations.)

The P10,000 handout was distributed under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

Meanwhile, the agency also distributed family food packs to the vendors.

Prior to this, the agency has already given aid to 90 other vendors in Pasay City, and is planning to distribute cash aid and food packs to 700 to 800 more vendors in Pasay City on Friday. — BAP, GMA News