Pasig insures market vendors 

Market vendors and stall owners in Pasig City received free health and accident insurance worth P32,000, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Pasig Mega Market, through a partnership bertween the Pasig City government and the Bisaya Gyud (BG) Party-List, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the program with Atty. Mico Clavano of the BG Party-list, District 2 Councilor Corazon “Corie” Raymundo, and Simon Romulo-Tantoco.

The event was also attended and supported by Pasig City Market Head Joey Molina and Pasig City Mega Market RTW Vendors Association President Zoilo Mercado.

Members of the Pasig City Local Council of Women and selected members of LGBTQ groups were also part of the insurance rollout.

The health insurance covers occasions of incidental death or disablement, motorcycling accident, other types of accidents, and illness or death due to natural causes or the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The beneficiaries may claim the insurance by contacting the hotline of the BG Partylist. A medical certificate or death certificate must be shown as proof for documentation.

Sotto recognized the difficulties market vendors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein stores were forced to close, and both non-essential and essential workers risked their health and safety in order to provide for their families.

He stressed the importance of health assistance to protect workers, especially during the pandemic.

“Sana hindi ninyo kailanganin, pero, when worse comes to worse, mabuti na po na meron tayong hawak-hawak na insurance (Hopefully you will not have to use it, but when worse comes to worse, it is better to have a health insurance as a safety net),” Sotto said.

Sotto assured that the local government will continue to create and develop efficient methods and solutions in order to aid every market vendor and stall owner in the city.