Some 2,900 registered pedicab or tricycle drivers in Marawi City are set to receive this week 25 kilos of rice and PHP500 cash from the local government unit (LGU) to ease the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis on poor residents.

Mayor Majul Gandamra said Wednesday the LGU gave priority to the drivers being the most affected sector during the pandemic, especially that the city has been placed on modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from Oct. 1 to 31.

The LGU started the distribution on Monday to the first batch, composed of 500 drivers, and will continue until all of the beneficiaries have been covered.

Gandamra said the money for the rice assistance was taken from the 2020 annual budget of the city after the local government spent all the Bayanihan fund from the national government.

“We properly manage our funds that is why we are prepared to give assistance to the needy,” Gandamra said.

In April, Marawi City received PHP54 million from the national government as Bayanihan Grant for Cities and Municipalities (BGCM) that was used to purchased rice and other food items for poor residents.

During the MECQ, only limited numbers of public utility vehicles are allowed to operate within the city proper, including the electronic tricycles (e-trikes) recently turned over to selected beneficiaries.

Throughout the duration of MECQ, Gandamra said curfew hours from 6 p.m to 4:30 a.m. will be strictly implemented, the mayor said. No one is allowed to go out of their homes on Sundays, except for medical front-liners or for emergency reasons.

As of Oct.. 5, Marawi City recorded 378 confirmed cases, 82 of which are active, with 278 recoveries and 18 fatalities. At least 342 of the total cases are classified as local transmissions. (PNA)