Cong. Carlo “Sandro” Gonzalez Calls for Alternative Employment Programs for Seafarers Amid ECQ

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Cong. Carlo Sandro Gonzalez Calls for
Alternative Employment Programs for Seafarers
Amid ECQ
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Amid the enhanced community quarantine
declaration by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on
Monday night, Marino Partylist First
Representative Sandro Gonzalez called for
alternative employment programs for seafarers, as
well as daily wage earners.  Gonzalez vowed that
the Partylist will perform its mandate in making
sure the needs of the seafarers and their
families are met at the height of this contagion.
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Our seafarers are not exempted from the wrath of
this virus. The Partylist assures our
constituents that we will provide necessary
support and assistance to address whatever impact
this pandemic may bring to them and their
immediate families, Gonzalez said. The lawmaker
pointed out that seafarers suffer when their
employment contracts are suspended as a result of
travel restrictions ensuing from the COVID-19
outbreak. As such, they should be extended with
help. 
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An alternative employment program or livelihood
assistance for seafarers should be in place in
this time of adversity. This is to mitigate the
economic effects of this pandemic because
seafarers do not have a choice when their
contracts are put on hold. They need to work to
feed their families, Gonzalez explained. Meanwhi
le, Gonzalez echoed the governments earlier
reminder for people to comply with the quarantine
regulations to quell the spread of the virus as
well as appealed to the public and business
owners to refrain from hoarding food and medical
supplies.
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The legislator likewise lauded the efforts of
health workers who put their lives at risk in
combating the disease, and the private sector who
are extending their resources in these trying
times. According to the first representative,
the Marino Partylist will donate testing kits to
the Department of Health (DOH) to meet the
dwindling supply.