Isko Moreno pledges P8 million cash aid to fire victims in Cavite City

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso visits fire victims in Cavite City on Sunday, February 12, 2022. | Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has promised to give P8 million in cash assistance to 790 families displaced by a massive fire that affected four barangays in Cavite City over the weekend.

The presidential candidate visited the fire victims who are temporarily sheltered at the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School on Sunday night and told them that each family whose house was razed to the ground will receive P10,000 in cash. The money, he claimed, will come from his personal fund and donations from friends and supporters.

Moreno asked 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 said amid cheers from fire victims.

The 47-year-old local chief executive 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 (1st District) and other local officials during his visit.

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso visits fire victims in Cavite City on Sunday, February 12, 2022. | Contributed photo

According to Moreno, he can relate to the fire victims’ situation as he also experienced being homeless several times when he used to live in the slums of Tondo in Manila in his childhood before becoming a public servant for the last 23 years.

That was why, he 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.

“Sa awa ng Diyos at kung tayo ay papalarin, hindi lamang sa Maynila ito mangyayari kundi gagawin natin sa buong bansa,” the presidential aspirant said. “Isa sa mga minimum basic needs ng tao ang shelter or isang masisilungan. At diyan tayo nakatutok, ang mapunan man lamang ang basic needs ng ating mga kababayan upang magkaroon ng pantay-pantay na oportunidad ang lahat,” he added.

Since he became the mayor of the nation’s capital city 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 San Lazaro and Pedro Gil residences, which construction are ongoing.

Tondominium 1 has been turned over to its beneficiaries recently while Tondomiun 2 will soon be ready to welcome its residents. The twin project is part of the “Build, Build, Build” Manila housing project, which is funded by a P15-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines.

In July last year, Moreno inaugurated the Basecommunity Housing project, the in-city two-story townhouse project for 229 poor families.

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso visits fire victims in Cavite City on Sunday, February 12, 2022. | Contributed photo

Since he became Manila councilor at age 23, Manila vice mayor at age 32, and mayor at age 44, it has been the practice of Moreno to visit families displaced by the fire and give them cash assistance to rebuild their houses.

Last December, Moreno was in Barangay 775, Sagrada Familia in San Andres, Manila, to provide P10,000 cash assistance to each of the 197 families left homeless by a fire that struck their community on December 7.

The month prior, Moreno flew to Cebu and provided cash assistance to the 944 families (2,200 individuals) affected by the November 26 fire in a residential area in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. He gave P10,000 to each family who lost their belongings to the fire.

READ: Isko visits Mambaling fire victims, pledges close to P10M in cash aid

During his visit to Cebu, the presidential aspirant also checked on the condition of the displaced families who are living in temporary shelters at the Alaska Mambaling Elementary School and Mambaling Barangay Hall gymnasium.

READ: Isko Moreno sends 16-man Manila disaster response team to Cebu City

Moreno was accompanied then by Deputy Speaker and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia.

“Bawat pamilyang nasunugan magkakaroon ng P10,000. ‘Wag n’yo ipangto-tong-its ha? Ibili n’yo ng yero para sa bubong at plywood para sa dingding,” Moreno told the residents of Barangay Mambaling.

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