Lapu-Lapu City Eyes ‘Cash for Work’ for Boatmen

The city government of Lapu-Lapu is set to implement a “cash for work” program to cushion the impact of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on boatmen affected by the downtrend in the tourism industry on Mactan Island.

Mayor Junard Chan said on Wednesday that apart from the protocols established by the multi-sector group tasked to monitor the Covid-19 situation, they have also devised measures to protect the informal sectors affected by the decreasing visitor arrivals and hotel bookings due to the worldwide coronavirus scare.

Chan highlighted the plight of the boatmen who earn from supplying seafood to tourists, saying that they are the first to feel the effect of the viral scare due to decreased booking for island hopping activities in Mactan Island.

“What we did, as much as we can, I already instructed our Department of Social Welfare to distribute our groceries in stock as well as rice while they are drafting the terms of reference for the cash for work,” he said.

Under the program, boatmen will engage in a 10-day work and will be paid PHP400 per day. Their job, the mayor said, is to clean the coastlines.

The “cash for work” program is also aimed at rehabilitating the seawater surrounding Mactan Island so that when tourism activities perk up again after the Covid-19 crisis, visitors would again be enticed to visit the beach and other sites.

“I will try to discuss with the City Council that if the crisis will prolong, probably we can use our calamity fund just to make the families of the affected sectors sustain while the coronavirus disease is still there,” he said.

Chan said the city government is aware of the reeling effect of the global health scare brought by Covid-19 to the tourism players in Mactan Island, saying that the Tourism and Investment Office has been keeping in touch with the hotel and resort owners to help them address their concerns.

The tourism and investment office has been coordinating with the hotel, resort and restaurant operators in Lapu-Lapu City to exchange notes on possible recovery action plans amid the viral scare, said Edward Mendez, the city tourism officer. (PNA)