Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said on Thursday, March 10, that the national government should look for all possible sources of funds to provide financial assistance or “ayuda” to people adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict that has pushed up gasoline prices to record highs.
“Napakalaking bagay ng ayuda ngayon, with all honesty. But ang katotohanan, hindi pa rin maitatanggi na kailangan talaga ng mga ayuda ng sektor ng driver o sektor ng mga manggagawa at ‘yung bawat pamilya (The ayuda is very important to others especially now. It can never be denied that the sector of drivers and workers really need the ayuda now)," Domagoso said during his campaign sortie in Nueva Ecija.
He explained that this is the reason why he is in favor of postponing the Dec. 5, 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections so that the P8 billion funds allocated for this purpose could be used as ayuda and to sustain other urgent needs of the people in these difficult times.
“We really have to cushion the socio-economic impact nitong mga nangyayari sa ating bansa dala ng external situation (We really have to cushion the socio-economic impact of what is happening in the country caused by external situation),” he added.