Porters in the Port of Cagayan de Oro, who are negatively affected by the ongoing crisis brought by COVID-19 pandemic, received relief food packs on 12 August 2021 from civic organizations, Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and Padre Pio Prayer Group of CDO, in collaboration with the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MO/C).

Each of the beneficiaries received a sack of rice, and a bag containing assorted canned goods, noodles, and sachets of milk powder for their families. The activity aimed to provide aid to a total of 115 beneficiaries including airport porters.

Port Manager Isidro V. Butaslac Jr. together with the representatives of the partner civic organizations led the distribution of the relief packs in CDO Port. The PMO has conducted coordination meetings to plan the organized distribution of goods and to ensure that safety and health protocols are observed.

The activity was organized not only to help ease the economic burden of the porters and their respective families but also to give recognition of their frontline service despite the prevailing COVID-19 threat. Also, this activity is in harmony with the government’s call for bayanihan, that is, helping one another especially the frontliners and the most vulnerable sector, so together the country can win over this crisis and heal as one.