Photo of Mayor Benjamin Magalong: by Neil Clark Ongchangco
MANILA, Philippines — Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong should not politicize financial assistance funding from government agencies and instead support them, according to a lawmaker.
Baguio City Rep. Mark Go issued this statement on Wednesday after Magalong claimed the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives was reportedly facilitating the disbursement of programs such as Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) under a “7-7-7 Ayuda System.”
Magalong detailed that the purported scheme involved giving out P7 million per program to lawmakers as a reward for participating in Romualdez’s sortie.
“There is no ‘seven-seven-seven’, its not true. Akap, AICS, and Tupad are national government programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with well-defined processes and oversight mechanisms,” Go said in a statement on Wednesday.
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”We are doing our job to make sure that the national programs intended for Baguio have a budget. He should be supportive and help us when we fight for the budget for Baguio City because it helps make the lives of those in need more comfortable,” he added.
Citing reports, Go said Magaling also asked the national government for additional budget for local projects and programs.
Go explained that their role was only to “facilitate” the government assistance programs.
“These funds are not tied to any individual or office but are directly allocated to support our fellow Filipinos in need,” Go reiterated.