Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Sunday night promised to give close to P8 million in cash assistance to 790 families displaced by a massive fire that broke out in Cavite City’s four barangays over the weekend.
Visiting the fire victims who are temporary sheltered at the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School last night, Moreno announced that all the 790 families whose houses were razed to the ground will receive P10,000 in cash per household from his personal fund and donations from friends and supporters.
During the surprise visit, Moreno told residents to use the money to rebuild their homes and for other necessities. “Sana makapagbigay kami ng konting pag-asa at tulong upang makabalik na kayo agad sa inyong lugar, na maramdaman ninyo na may kapwa Pilipino na nagmamalasakit po sa inyo,” he told fire victims, who cheered loudly when he announced his financial aid.
The 47-year-old presidential aspirant was accompanied by his vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison. They were joined at the site by incumbent Cavite Rep. Francis Blue Abaya (First District) and other local officials.
According to Moreno, he can relate to the fire victims’ situation as he also experienced to be homeless several times when he used to live in the slums of Tondo, Manila during his childhood before becoming a public servant for the last 23 years.
That was why, the local chief executive of Manila said, he had to visit the affected families at the temporary evacuation center to “give them a little relief.”
“Naranasan ko rin mawalan ng tirahan minsan sa buhay ko at ito ay napakasakit at mahirap. Kaya naman noong ako ang naging alkade sa Maynila, binigyan ko ng prayoridad ang mga pabahay para sa mga batang Maynila,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer said.
Since he became the mayor of Manila more than two years ago, Moreno launched major housing projects that included the Tondominium 1 and 2 in Tondo district, the Binondominium which is targeted to be completed in the first quarter of 2022, and the ongoing construction of the San Lazaro and Pedro Gil residences.