A total of 634 fire victims in the city of Manila received financial assistance from the city government on Wednesday, Dec. 20. 

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan led the distribution of the cash aid with Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto, and Manila Department of Social Welfare Officer-in-Charge Re Fugoso at the Universidad de Manila (UdM) covered court. 

The city government said the beneficiaries were the victims of the nine reported fire incidents in the city from Nov. 10 to Dec. 13. 

It said that a total of 626 affected families received P10,000 each, while eight unattached individuals received P3,000 per person.

Lacuna-Pangan said she was saddened by the series of fire incidents in the city, including the recent fire that hit Tondo, Manila on Dec. 19 that displaced 300 families. 

“Sa totoo lamang po nakakapanlumo na. Alam namin na napakabigat na suliranin po nito sa inyong pamilya. Bagamat, nandirito po ang inyo pamahalaan para kayo po ay tulungan [kahit na], hindi naman po ito sasapat sa mga nawala sa inyo. Huwag ho kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Hanggang sa abot ng makakaya ng inyong pamahalaan, hindi po namin kayo papabayaan (It's really sad. We know that this is very hard for your family. Although the city government is here to help you [even if] it will not be enough for those what you have lost, please don't lose hope. As long as we can, we will help you),” the mayor said.

Servo urged the victims not to give up even though they had lost their properties and belongings.

“Maski may pinagdadaanan po tayong pagsubok, basta huwag po kayong susuko ah. Hanggang may buhay, may pag-asa. Ang mahalaga ay narito po tayo, sama-sama po tayo. Kung may nawala pong materyal, kaya nating ibalik ‘yan, pero yung buhay (hindi), at least buhay tayo, safe tayo. Makakabangon tayo at makakaahon tayo para sa bagong bukas (Even though we are going through trials, please don't give up. As long as there is life, there is hope. The important thing is that we are here, we are together. We can buy again the things we had lost but not our lives, so the important thing is that we are safe. We will all rise for a new tomorrow),” he said.

“Makakaasa po kayo na ang aming regalo sa Maynila ay maglingkod lang po ng tapat, malinis, at may takot sa Diyos para sa batang Manileño at sa ating bayan (We promise that our gift to Manila is to serve honestly, cleanly, and with the fear of God for the young Manileños and our people),” he added.

The city government also provided the beneficiaries with hot meals and basic necessities such as hygiene kits and mats.