Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Monday, Aug. 28, said that people should not take it against Makatizens if they are commenting about the quality of schools supplies being given by the city and the city of Taguig following the two local government units' (LGUs) distribution of school supplies to students of the 14 public schools affected in the Makati and Taguig cities' territorial dispute.

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay

Binay said she saw how happy the students were upon receiving the school supplies coming from the Makati local government on Aug. 23 after the Department of Education (DepEd) approved Makati's request to proceed with the distribution of free school supplies to over 45,000 students of the affected public schools.

"Sa aming pag-iikot, kitang-kita ko ang tuwa ng mga bata. Ang mga magulang naman ay tila nabunutan ng tinik­ nang makatanggap ng magagandang gamit na sabi nila ay kasyang-kasya para sa isang taong konsumo ng kani­lang mga anak (During our rounds, we saw how happy the children were with the school supplies we have given them. Their parents also heaved a sigh of relief as their children received supplies that are enough for a year's consumption)," the mayor said.  

"Hindi po 'entitled' ang mga taong ito, at hindi ko rin po ipagtatanggol ang sinasabing hindi nila magandang attitude dahil ikunukumpara nila ang mga gamit na handog namin at ang ibinibigay ng Taguig (These people are not entitled, and I won't defend them for comparing the materials coming from us with those that came from Taguig)," she added.

Binay stressed that these people were asked to comment about the school supplies that came from Taguig, hence, they were just telling the truth.

"Nasanay sila sa sagana, sa de-kalidad, at pang-matagalang mga gamit. Ipinamimigay na lamang ang pinaglumaan pero hindi pa sira. Ganyan po kagandang klase ang mga sapatos at bag na aming ibinibigay (They are used to receiving complete, high quality, and long-lasting school supplies. They even give away their old but still in good shape supplies to others. That's how high quality the shoes and bags are that we are giving to them)," the mayor explained.

"Hindi po choosy ang mga Makatizens, kung hindi mapanuri. Praktikal sila sa buhay at iniisip ang dagdag gastos ng mga gamit na kailangan pa nilang bilhin (Makatizens are critical, not choosy. They are practical people who are always making every centavo count)," she added.

Binay said everyone has the freedom of expression and to share their comments and complaints and in this case, she sees that the people still want the quality of service they experience and receive in Makati.

Under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education), public school students from kinder to senior high school, including Special Education students in elementary and high school, receive school uniforms and supplies from the city. Students in all levels will each receive school uniforms and PE T-shirt and jogging pants. School bags, caps and dengue kits will also be given to Kinder pupils.

Elementary students will also each receive a pair of black leather shoes, three pairs of white socks, Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4), dengue kits, and school supplies consisting of 10 pieces of notebooks, five sets of intermediate pads, and five pieces each of ballpen and pencil.

Junior and senior high school students will also receive black shoes and socks, and the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math Graphing notebook added.

Grades 11 and 12 students will also get a jacket with hoodie.

For SPED students in elementary and high school, the city will provide school supplies package, school uniforms, leather shoes and three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED.