FACEBOOK user CJ Banasihan found his demand for the P5,000 cash assistance promised by the government answered.
Not in cash as he’d hoped, though.
Dole Philippines Inc., a fruit processing company, sent Banasihan P5,000 worth of its products after Banasihan sent his demand to the company by mistake instead of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“Ano na?! Nasan na yung 5k namin?” Banasihan wrote on March 24, referring to the P5,000 cash assistance that the DOLE, the government agency, had promised to distribute to beneficiaries of the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp).
Dole, the fruit company, replied and pointed Banasihan to the correct Facebook page of DOLE, with the suggestion that Banasihan “try a refreshing can of Dole 100% Pineapple juice” if he were feeling stressed out.
Banasihan’s Facebook post about his exchange with Dole went viral, receiving more than 33,000 reactions and over 4,500 comments. More than 73,000 other Facebook users shared his post.
On April 6, Banasihan posted again on Facebook photos of him receiving several boxes of Dole products.
The company confirmed Wednesday, April 8, that it had sent P5,000 worth of its products to Banasihan.
“He may not have gotten the money yet from the Department of Labor and Employment, but he received more than 5,000 pesos worth of our products for brightening up everyone’s day with his viral post,” the company said in its own Facebook post.
The government agency is distributing P5,000 cash assistance to workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine imposed in the entire Luzon as a measure to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.
As of April 4, 2020, DOLE said 102,895 formal sector workers had received the P5,000 cash assistance under Camp while close to 80,000 workers in the informal sector benefitted from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad)-Barangay ko, Bahay Ko (BKBK) program.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said the agency targets to distribute cash aid to more than 350,000 workers using over P1.5 billion in fund assistance under Camp and Tupad.
To reach more than 600,000 workers, the agency said it would need another P5 billion. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)