Pondo ng Pinoy, a poverty alleviation program initiated by Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, archbishop-emeritus of Manila, said it continues to provide aid for the poor amid the pandemic.
As it marked its 16th year, the program reported a total collection of 427,286,253 pesos or US$8.5 million that have been used for projects and aid for the empowerment of poor communities.
From July 2019 to May 2020 alone, the “crumbs collection” amounted to 9.6 million pesos.
The program was able to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic in more than 30 dioceses through the distribution of food packs, face masks, and even cash donations.
Henrietta “Tita” De Villa, a member of the board of the organization, said assistance to the poor to combat the pandemic continues.
“It has priority over projects for funding applications,” she said, adding that the program will also continue to encourage every person, “no matter how poor, no matter how humble, the freedom to give, to help and live fully.”
She said Pondo ng Pinoy aims to cultivate the culture of giving and helping another, through saving as little as 25 centavos a day as an act of love for the poor and as a symbol of one’s good works.
