Perjerie Panila, 45, is a person with disability (PWD) from Barangay South Baluarte, an urban poor community in Iloilo City. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was dislocated from his primary source of income. Perj is left worrying how to sustain the needs of his one-year old child.

Prior to the pandemic, Perj sells fish on sidewalks despite limitations in mobility due to his condition. He used to earn around PhP500 pesos per day from selling fish. His wife looks after their child and their home.

During the earlier months of the implementation of community lockdowns, small-scale vendors like Perj were banned from selling in observance of the minimum health protocols. Now, almost nine (9) months after, Perj is still not able to go back to selling fish. He currently relies on the support of his in-laws and friends.

“The impact of the pandemic is really terrible. Most of us vendors were dislocated from work, especially small-scale vendors like me. It is really hard to look for other sources of income during this pandemic,” Perj lamented.

Perj is one of the 400 beneficiaries of PCDR’s Relief Assistance for Families Severely Affected by COVID-19 in Iloilo City. He received a food pack and a hygiene kit thru Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe’s support.

“I would like to thank Diakonie, PCDR, and the urban poor organization KAISOG who made this activity possible. As of the moment, we really need these basic goods. We call on the government to help small-scale vendors like me who were dislocated from work. We need additional financial assistance to be able to survive this pandemic,” says Perj.