Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Monday, July 24, cited the city's accomplishments and initiatives towards improving the education and welfare of Makatizen students. "Simula 2017, nakapagbigay na tayo ng mahigit na 534, 867 libreng black leather shoes. Ang #ProudMakatizen students mula Kinder hanggang Senior High School ay naka­katanggap din ng ready-to-wear uniforms, medyas, school bags, at water bottles. Enjoy din sila sa very trendy at matibay na AB sneakers. Simula 2017 ay nakapag distribute na tayo ng 441,576 pairs ng rubber shoes (Since 2017, we have distributed over 534,867 free black leather shoes to our #ProudMakatizen students. Learners from Kinder to Senior High School have also received ready-to-wear uniforms, socks, school bags, and water bottles. They also expressed their happiness for receiving the very trendy and well-made AB sneakers. Since 2017, the city government have distributed 441,576 pairs of this rubber shoes)," Binay said. "Para naman sa kanilang kaligtasan at kalusugan, naka­pagbigay tayo ng 47,212 anti-dengue kits ngayong school year. Isama mo pa riyan ang 131,379 Go Bags para sa mga estudyante mula Kinder hanggang High School para ready sila sa panahon ng sakuna (For their safety and health, we have given them 47,212 anti-dengue kits for this school year. A total of 131,379 Go Bags for Kinder to High School students were also distributed for them to be ready in case of emergencies or disasters)," she added. The mayor underscored the need for students to have nutritious food in schools hence, she expanded the city's Project FEED where 42,024 elementary students are continuously fed with free healthy school snacks. The city government also gave food vouchers to the 9,539 Grade 6 and Grade 12 graduates of Makati this year. "Para naman sa lahat ng students mula Kinder hanggang Senior High School at SPED, nagbigay tayo ng year-end grocery packs na puno ng masasarap at masustansyang pagkain. Lahat po ng 77,886 students na nagtapos ng school year 2022-2023 ay meron nito. Bilang pagkilala sa kanilang pagpupunyagi, nagbigay tayo ng P10K cash incentives sa honor graduates ng UMak, habang ang honor graduates ng elementary at high school ay may mula P2,000 hanggang P5,000 na insentibo (We have given all 77,886 Kinder to Senior High School and SPED students with year-end grocery packs filled with healthy and delicious food. Meanwhile, as our way of giving recognition to honor graduates of UMak, we have given P10,000 cash incentives to each of them while elementary and high school honor graduates received P2,000 to P5,000 cash incentives)," Binay explained. "Itinuring ko nang mga anak ang mga estudyante sa Makati, kaya gusto kong bigyan sila ng pinakamagandang kagamitan, mataas na kalidad ng edukasyon, mga enriching fied trips at activities, at marami pang iba (I consider all students of Makati as my children that's why I want to provide them the best gear, the highest level of education, enriching field trips and activities, and so much more)," she added. On July 17, Binay affirmed her commitment to Makatizens residing in the area encompassing the city's second district and vowed to cooperate fully with the national government to settle the city's land dispute with the Taguig local government. "Sa susunod na mga araw makikipagugnayan at makikipagtulungan ang inyong lingkod at city government sa mga kaukulang departmento at ahensya ng national government (In the coming days, we will coordinate and cooperate with the departments and agencies of the national government)," she said. She explained that she has not yet received a copy of the said Supreme Court's (SC) decision but emphasized that the Makati local government respects the decision of the SC. The mayor also clarified that the wellbeing of around 300,000 displaced families and individuals living in the 10 barangays of the second district are her main priority concerns. "Ang isyu ay hindi tungkol sa pagsunod ng Makati sa nasasabing desisyon. Ito ay hindi tungkol sa BGC, at mas lalo ng hindi ito tungkol sa pulitika (This issue is not about Makati's compliance with the SC's decision. It is not about BGC, and especially not about politics)," she said. The city government allocated over P9 billion to the second district in 2022, which the mayor said was "not seen as an expense, but a right of every taxpayer in Makati." Binay questioned the benefits that the Taguig local government allegedly promised to the residents of the second district such as scholarship offers to senior high school students, as well as their commitment to supporting those living in the disputed land. "Hindi lahat ng serbisyo at benepisyo na ibinibigay ng Makati ay ibibigay o kayang tapatan ng Taguig, maging sa dami o sa kalidad (Not all services and benefits that are offered by Makati will be provided or even matched by Taguig, whether in their quantity or quality)," she said. "Hahanap kami ng paraan para maipagpatuloy ng Makati ang pagtulong at paglingkod sa inyo (We, in the Makati local government, will find ways to continue helping and serving you)," Binay stressed.