LEO ANGELO V. SACAYAN, the seaman, wants to sail again: 'It’s better to have a job'

Cash aid for Filipinos to buy food also becomes avenue for corruption
Vann Marlo M. Villegas November 30, 2020 https://www.bworldonline.com/cash-aid-for-filipinos-to-buy-food-also-bec...

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LEO ANGELO V. SACAYAN, a 41-year-old sea-faring sous-chef from Malabon City, got P15,600 in government aid after coming home at the start of the year amid a global coronavirus pandemic.

He spent the money buying a desktop computer for the online classes of his son, who is in Grade 10 at a local private school. He’s been jobless after declining three offers from Magsaysay Maritime Corp., his employer, to sail again.

“Working again on a cruise ship scares me. I don’t want to get infected but money is tight,” he said via Facebook Messenger chat. “I’ve decided to sail once I get another offer.”

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Mr. Sacayan, the seaman, is raring to leave the country and sail away. “As soon as I get an offer from my company to step on a ship, I will grab the chance.”

“The money from the government could only support you for a while. It’s better to have a job.”