THE local government of Candaba is helping affected local businesses, farmers, vendors, and the transport sector to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vice Mayor Michael Sagum said the government's economic recovery efforts are focused on different sectors of the community.
Sagum said: "We are still dependent on our internal revenue allotment, with an annual collection of only P18 million. Since we don't have many businesses here, and given that almost all of our properties are farmlands, our farmers and duck raisers are the hardest hit by the pandemic."
To help these sectors cope, the local government bought rice crops (palay) from the affected farmers and eggs from duck raisers, which were included in the relief packs.
"Instead of buying rice from commercial distributors, we bought palay directly from our farmers and have it milled to become rice. We also bought a total of one million pieces of eggs from our duck raisers. This way, we were able to provide relief packs to the people, while helping them earn despite the imposed lock downs," Sagum said.
Sagum added that Mayor Rene Maglanque also talked to other mayors from Pampanga and Bulacan to consider buying crops and eggs from the Candaba's producers to provide them economic relief.
The local government also partnered with businesses in the town to make economic recovery more inclusive.
"We purchase goods needed by the local government from business establishments here. In turn, they help us in any way they can. We make sure that despite the setbacks in the economy, we involve everyone so that we recover as one," Sagum said.
An ordinance was also approved waiving daily fees from stall owners and market vendors.
"We did not collect any fees from them for one and a half months to help them recover. In fact, until now, most of them are still feeling the effects of the pandemic," Sagum said.
Meanwhile, in the transport sector, he said the local government made sure that jeepney and tricycle drivers received the aid that is accorded to them from the National Government.
He also said that Candaba has set up good terms for prospective investors by eliminating corruption and red tape and ensure that the town is a business-friendly municipality. (PIA)