The 'payroll masters' during pandemic

Maidy Pahati, 49, is an officer of the government's Department of Social Welfare and Development. It is her task to lead the distribution of financial assistance to poor communities in town.

As authorities imposed a strict community quarantine, preventing people from leaving their homes, Pahati and her team had to double their efforts to reach out to remote villages.

The cash aid ranges from a minimum of Php1,000, or about US$20, to a maximum of Php4,000 (US$80), depending on the needs of the household.

The team took a small boat, an outrigger, waded on knee-deep floodwaters, and knocked on doors to bring help to the people on the island village of Tibaguin, one of the 26 villages they have to visit.

“I'm happy that we could help and that we still have work to do despite what is happening," said Pahati. "It is physically tiring," she added.

The team is escorted by police officers for their safety and to ensure order in the villages where the cash is to be distributed.

"It’s also for the safety of everyone," said Rogelio Suico, 52, who calls the island village a "virgin island" because of the absence of the coronavirus disease.

Tibaguin is a small coastal village located on an island that submerges to knee-deep flood waters during high-tide in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines.

Fishermen prepare to fish near the coastal village of Tibaguin, Philippines

Fishermen prepare to fish near the coastal village of Tibaguin in Hagonoy town in the province of Bulacan, north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

_{Background photos: Residents wearing protective masks and face shields sit on chairs as they queue to receive financial aid in Tibaguin, a small village in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan north of Manila, Philippines. (Photos by Basilio Sepe)}

"We are strict to people who go in and out,” said Suico, who is the village chief.

He said he feels "sad" because not everyone can get financial assistance.

"Although, I am also happy because somehow there are still those who are able to receive assistance from the government,” he said.

Village officials assist residents with contact-tracing requirements before receiving financial aid in Tibaguin village. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Village officials assist residents with contact-tracing requirements before receiving financial aid in Tibaguin village. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

The Philippine government has earlier announced about 10.8 billion-pesos in financial assistance for families most affected by the pandemic, especially low-income households.

Despite inoculation programs against COVID-19, the Philippines continues to suffer from rising coronavirus infections with over 10,000 daily cases in the past two weeks.

Residents wearing protective masks and face shields queue to claim financial aid in Tibaguin, a small village in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Residents wearing protective masks and face shields queue to claim financial aid in Tibaguin, a small village in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Maidy Pahati, counts peso bills during a financial aid distribution program for families affected by the pandemic in Tibaguin, a small village located on an island in Hagonoy town, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Residents wearing protective masks and face shields receive financial aid in Tibaguin, a small village in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Village officials wade through flood waters carrying tables with plastic barriers after a financial aid distribution program for families affected by the COVID-19 lockdown measures in Tibaguin. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Maidy Pahati walks back to the boat after distributing financial aid to residents of Tibaguin, a small village located on an island in Hagonoy town, Bulacan province north of Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

A village official guides a government worker who distributes financial aid to bedridden residents in Tibaguin. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)

Text and Photos by Basilio Sepe

Published August 13, 2021