KALIBO, AKLAN – Ellen Altarejos, 59, is a mother of one and a grandmother of two from Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan. Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, the life of Ellen’s family was already very poor. They earn from collecting scraps in  the dumping site of Kalibo, which enable to sustain their daily needs. She earns around 100-150 pesos from scrapping, which she only does at a maximum of three times in a week.

“When COVID-19 pandemic happened, our scrapping stopped because of restriction policies,” Ellen said. “We cannot go out, we cannot look for job to earn, we only at home,” Ellen added.

Due to COVID-19, the primary source of income of Ellen’s family was affected. They now rely only on external help in order for them to survive everyday. “When pandemic happened, we rely on others’ help. Our Barangay Captain sustain us also through relief assistance. When someone give us something, we thank them,” Ellen said in teary eyes.

Though she now went back to scrapping since restriction policies are not that heavy, her earnings dropped to only 50 pesos.

Ellen is one of the 885 beneficiaries of Mercy Relief’s Relief Assistance for Communities Affected by COVID-19 in Western Visayas, where she received food packs composed of rice, mung beans, dried fish, cooking oil, and sardines. She also received hygiene kits composed of face masks, alcohol, and hand soap.

“We are very grateful to those who gave us these relief goods. This can help us and sustain our needs for weeks or days,” Ellen said. “I call on those who have kind hearts to help the poor like us, who were affected by the pandemic, that’s all,” Ellen ended.//PCDR