BATANG MAYNILA
Mayor Isko Moreno
Good news for all Batang Maynila.
In our own small way and through the help and support of my tireless vice mayor, Honey Lacuna, no Manilan, will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on an empty stomach. ‘Walang nganga,’ or so the street jargon goes.
All families in Manila numbering about 650,000 will be receiving food packs that they can put atop their tables and share on the special days for us Filipinos.
As of this writing, these food packs may already be ready for distribution in the city’s various districts.
We may not be able to shoulder everything but at the very least, we in the city government would just like Manilans to know and feel that there is a city government at work and concerned about their welfare.
Knowing that all families have something to share and that no stomach will be empty on Christmas Day is enough to make us in the local government happy. If a family does not have any money, they can set aside maybe 70 percent of the food items and use them either on Christmas Eve or Day itself.
Another good news that we have for Manilans is that we in the city government have already increased the budget allocation for the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19, the moment it becomes available in the market.
Once the opportunity arrives, these vaccines will be our gift for all Manilans and I thank Vice Mayor Honey and the city councilors for their help. This will be on top of what the national government is planning to do.
From the P200 million we allotted about four or five months ago, the budget is increased to P250 million after we decided to cancel road projects and realign the budget for vaccine purchase instead. Our priority is the health of the city’s population instead of good roads.
Fortunately, yours truly happens to have connections with companies making the vaccines so that we were able to communicate with them as early as possible to ensure that we will be able to purchase vaccines as soon as they are certified by proper authorities.
Now, whatever protocols will be dictated by the DOH will be the same that will be used by the Manila Health Department to make sure that the public will not be kept in the dark or misguided. The message of the national government will be the message of the local government and our local barangays as well.
The city government will be creating an ID system and a website where those interested in availing of the vaccine will be given one, but only after a thorough scrutiny and study of his condition.
In order to give Manilans peace of mind and security that the vaccine is safe, I will have myself vaccinated.
Meanwhile, let me also take this opportunity to clarify that there will be no lockdowns anywhere in Manila at least until the end of the year, contrary to what had been coming out on social media.
This will only happen if the residents will put their guards down,
become reckless, and cause COVID cases to shoot up and thus necessitate
a lockdown.
I call on the public to avoid believing everything they read on social media. Instead, go to my official social media account and my public announcements where everybody can get the correct information and may be guided properly.
Right now, the occupancy rate in our city’s total COVID beds is only 5 percent and thus, I call on all, particularly Manilans, to remain vigilant and extra cautious to keep the statistics low if not totally eradicate COVID cases in the city.
Truth is, I find it hard to sleep soundly at night for fear that our residents may suddenly let their guard down or become reckless in observing minimum health protocols, especially now that the government is slowly opening up the economy and allowing more people out of their homes.
Right now, all hope is still anchored on the public taking all the necessary precautions and following protocols to the letter at all times.
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Gaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!***
For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’