Mayor Zamora: San Juan City ordinance not for political purposes

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora. —Photo from Mayor Francis Zamora FB page

MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora stressed that a city ordinance mandating all donations for disaster victims must go through the Office of the Mayor is just aimed at ensuring the orderly distribution and safety of recipients, and not for political purposes.

Ordinance No. 26-2024 garnered attention particularly from Senator JV Ejercito and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who have called it “unjust” and a clear “abuse of power.”

READ: A blow to Bayanihan: JV Ejercito hits San Juan City’s donation rule

But in a video statement posted on his Facebook account on Tuesday, Zamora defended the ordinance, explaining that its purpose is to ensure the distribution of donations from private and public individuals, governments, or non-governmental organizations is recorded and will be done smoothly.

The city ordinance further imposes a penalty of P5,000 for violators.

READ: Jinggoy questions San Juan City’s new ordinance on evacuation centers

“Gusto ko po linawin, hindi po bawal tumulong sa lungsod ng San Juan; in fact, we welcome all kinds of help from different people (I would like to clarify, it is not prohibited to help the city of San Juan. In fact, we welcome all kinds of help from different people.),” said Zamora.

“Ang nakasaad lamang dito sa ating ordinansa ay makipag-ugnayan po kayo sa lokal na pamahalaan. Bakit? Sapagkat tungkulin po namin na siguraduhing ligtas ang bawat isa sa loob ng evacuation center (It is stated in our ordinance that you should coordinate with the local government. Why? Because it is our duty to ensure the safety of everyone inside the evacuation center.),” he added.

“Kung hindi po natin susuriin ang mga donasyon ninyo at ang ihandog po sa ating mga mamamayan ay panis na pagkain o kaya expired na gamot o di kaya mga inuming hindi maayos ang pagkahanda, at biglang magkasakit ang mga nasa evacuation center, kaninong responsibilidad po iyon? Sa amin pong responsibilidad po iyon (If we do not inspect your donations and end up offering our citizens spoiled food, expired medicine, or improperly prepared drinks, and people in the evacuation center suddenly fall ill, whose responsibility would that be? That responsibility would fall on us.),” he further explained

The ordinance also mandates visitors or donors who wish to enter the evacuation centers to obtain an entry permit from the Office of the Mayor. Zamora noted that securing a permit is not difficult.

Even House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his team needed to get a permit from him to carry out their relief distribution, he added.

“Nitong nakaraang bagyo at sunog mayroon pong mga senador na nakipag-ugnayan din po sa atin para tumulong; hindi naman po sila nahirapan (During the recent typhoon and fire, there were senators who also coordinated with us to provide help, and they did not encounter any difficulties.),” Zamora said.

No politics involved

Zamora also defended that the new ordinance has no politics involved.

“Hindi po ito politika, this is all about taking care of the general welfare of our people. Kasi paulit-ulit sinasabi, ‘politika, politika,’ wala pong politika dito (This is not about politics; this is all about taking care of the general welfare of our people. Because it’s being repeatedly said, ‘politics, politics,’ but there is no politics involved here.),” he said.

“Siguro mas mabuting bawas lang ng pride kahit na mas mataas po kayong opisyal eh respetuhin niyo lang po ang lokal na pamahalaan ng San Juan (Maybe it would be better to set aside a bit of pride, even if you are a higher-ranking official, and just respect the local government of San Juan.),” Zamora added.

The mayor did not mention names, but Senator JV Ejercito, who served as mayor of San Juan for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010, earlier expressed alarm on Zamora’s alleged intent to control aid distribution in the city.

Ejercito said local government’s attention should focus on the well-being of its constituents rather than promoting personal and political interests.

His brother, Estrada, also served as mayor of San Juan for three terms from 1992 to 2001.

Aside from Ejercito and Estrada, their father, former President Joseph Estrada, ruled San Juan City from 1969 to 1986. Ejercito’s mother, Guia Gomez, also served as mayor of the city from 2010-2019.

Zamora ended the 50-year grip of the Estrada clan over San Juan City when he won the 2019 local elections.

“Kung hahayaan natin na sa oras at sa pamamaraan na gusto nilang tumulong ay bara-bara, bahala na sila, eh paano kung biglang mamahagi ng ayuda doon at magkagulo? (If we allow them to help whenever and however they want, in a disorganized manner, what if they suddenly distribute aid and it causes chaos?)” the mayor said.

“Kaninong responsibilidad iyon? Sa amin po iyon (Whose responsibility would that be? That would be ours.),” he stressed.