Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said the distribution of the financial assistance, hygiene kits and relief items to 2,000 families who were displaced by the recent fires in Tondo was unduly delayed because some members from the Manila City Council's minority group "tried but failed" to block the passage of a resolution needed for the release of funds.
The mayor personally apologized to the public, specifically to the affected families who she said had to wait unnecessarily.
"Lagi ko sinasabi sa mga kasamahan ko na ayaw na ayaw kong nagpapahintay, dahil alam kong napakabigat na ng inyong pinagdaraanan (I always tell my colleagues that I don't want to keep them waiting, because I know what you are going through is very heavy)," the mayor said.
"Pinakiusapan ko po ang konseho ng Maynila na magpasa ng isang resolusyon para sa agarang pagbibigay ng tulong-pinansiyal, dangan nga lamang, hindi ko malaman sa kung anong dahilan ay tila ho ba parang pinatatagal nang pinatatagal ng ilan nilang kasamahan sa minorya pero sabi ko sa kanila [majority councilors], 'wag sila bibitaw, piliting maipasa dahil alam ko po 'yan ang kinakailangan n'yo ngayon (I asked the Council of Manila to pass a resolution for the immediate provision of financial assistance, but I don't know for what reason, some of their colleagues in the minority group seem to be delaying it, but I told the majority councilors to pass it immediately because I know that's what you need now)," Lacuna-Pangan lamented.
The mayor expressed gratitude to Manila Vice Mayor and Manila City Council Presiding Officer John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto, Councilors Bobby Lim, Nino dela Cruz and Marjun Isidro and the other majority councilors who worked to ensure that the resolution needed for the funds' release was passed as soon as possible.
The said councilors, along with Manila Department of Social Welfare Chief Re Fugoso, also assisted in the distribution of the cash aid and goods to the fire victim-families.
"Pasalamatan natin sila sa kanilang tunay na pagmamalasakit and siyempre, si Vice Mayor Yul na kanina pa inaaway nung iba nating konsehal. Di ko maintindihan kaya ako na ho ang nahingi ng paumanhin pero ang importante nandirito na kami ngayon dahil alam ko na ito po ang kailangang- kailangan nyo, maliban sa kailangan ninyong makabalik sa inyong mga lugar para makapag-pundar ulit. Pagdamutan ninyo ang aming makakayanan (Let's thank them for their true concern and of course, Vice Mayor Yul who has been fighting with our other councilors for a while. I don't understand why I am the one who apologized but the important thing is that we are here now because I know that this is what you need, except that you need to go back to your places to be able to start again. Accept what we can give)," she said.
Nieto disclosed that just as he was about to tackle the resolution for the cash assistance for the fire victims, the councilors belonging to the minority group walked out altogether in an "apparent attempt" to block the passage of the resolution for the lack of quorum.
He said he needed to gather other majority councilors to fill the attendance of present members, which he said is allowed under the council's internal rules, but it was questioned by a minority member lengthily.
He noted that the some members of the minority group was "obviously attempting" to delay or block the resolution's passage.
"Nakakalungkot lang na pati ang tulong na para sa mga tao ay napupulitika. Dapat ipinapasa namin agad ang mga resolusyong gaya nito kasi kailangang-kailangan ito ng mga tao (It's just sad that even the help meant for the people is politicized. We should pass resolutions like this immediately because the people desperately need it)," Nieto sighed.
During the distribution of the cash assistance, hygiene kits and relief goods, the mayor assured the fire victims that she, the vice mayor and their allies in the council will always be there for them.
"Hinding-hindi namin kayo pababayaan at hinding-hindi namin kayo iiwan (We will never neglect you and we will never leave you)."