The Manila city government distributed over 2,000 food boxes to former Manila residents who were relocated to the nearby provinces of Cavite and Bulacan.
The activity was in line with the city's COVID-19 Food Security Program (FSP) wherein each family in the capital city receives food boxes once a month.
"I hope nakatulong ng kaunti ang inyong Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Maynila. Basta kaya nating abutin. Mapa-Maynila man o sa labas ng Maynila. It doesn't matter. Ang importante ay magtulungan tayo. Kasi pandemya ito (I hope the Manila city government has helped a little. As long as we can, whether it's in Manila or outside Manila. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that we work together. Because this is a pandemic)," Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said in a statement on Monday (April 26).
The Department of Public Services (DPS) personnel distributed a total of 2,850 food boxes to former residents who are now living in Naic, Cavite; Pandi, Bulacan; and Norzagaray, Bulacan.
Each food box contains three kilos of rice, 16 pieces of canned goods, and eight sachets of coffee.
In February, the city government launched the FSP, an initiative that will allow 700,000 families to receive a monthly food subsidy and help curb hunger and mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.
Domagoso has reminded the city's barangay chiefs to be inclusive when it comes to giving help to the public.
"Botante man o hindi botante, yakapin ninyo. Tulungan natin (Voter or not, embrace them. Let us help them)," he said.
Domagoso earlier criticized Naic Mayor Jun Dualan for the alleged late distribution or lack of financial assistance to Naic relocatees on April 20, 2021.
On April 23, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla defended Dualan and criticized Domagoso for being "arrogant."
Remulla and Domagoso have since resolved their differences over financial aid for former Manila residents who were relocated to Naic, the Cavite governor said.
READ MORE: Remulla and Isko patch things up