Manila Mayor Sheila "Honey" Lacuna- Pangan distributed financial assistance to 922 students during the fifth batch of the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) at San Andres Complex on Tuesday, May 16.
"Ayusin po natin ang pamamahala ng pondo ng ating lungsod nang sa gayon po ay magkaroon tayo ng mga programang kapaki-pakinabang sa lahat-lahat ng mga Manilenyo, bata man o matanda (Let's organize the city's fund management so that we can have programs that would benefit Manilans of all ages)," the mayor said during her address.
Lacuna-Pangan said the EAP aims to provide cash aid to Grade 1 to senior high school public school students from Baseco and first to sixth districts in the city.
She added that even though public school students do not have to pay tuition, they still have expenses such as fares, uniforms, school supplies, and pocket money.
More or less 5,000 students have already benefited from the program since its first distribution last July 7.
Each student received P5,000 from the city government and the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW).
MDSW Director Ma. Asuncion Fugoso expressed her gratitude to the program contributors, including city social workers, officers of Child Development Worker, Public Relation Bureau (PRB), City General Services Office (CGSO), Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), Department of Public Services (DPS), and districts' offices.