Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna- Pangan led the distribution of financial assistance to public school students in the city on Wednesday, May 15.
Lacuna-Pangan was joined by Manila Department of Social Welfare Chief Re Fugoso and Vice Mayor John Marvin Yul Servo Nieto during the distribution of the cash aid under the city's Educational Assistance Program (EAP) held at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
It was learned from Fugoso that the recipients reached a total of 1,663.
Each beneficiary received P5,000.
In her speech, Lacuna-Pangan appealed to the parents not to use the cash assistance for other purposes like paying for their electric or water bills or to pay their debts.
"Bagama't hindi kalakihan, ang tulong na ito ay aming ibinibigay para kahit paano ay maibsan ang inyong pangaraw-araw na pangangailangan (Although not large, we provide this assistance to somehow alleviate your daily needs)," the lady mayor said.
"Sana ay gamitin ninyo ito sa pangangailangan ng mga anak ninyo (I hope you use it for your children’s needs)," she said as she appealed to the students to make their parents proud by finishing school.
"Mag-aral lang kayo dahil 'yan ang regalo sa inyong mga magulang na ginagawa lahat para lang matustusan ang inyong mga pangangailangan. Wala nang iba pang masaya pag kayo ay makapagtapos ng pag-aaral (Just study because that is a gift to your parents who do everything just to provide for your needs. They will be the happiest when you graduate)," she said.
"Napakalaki ng learning gap ng ating mga anak at apo kaya gusto po namin sa pagkakataon na ito na paliitin ang learning gap... mabigyan kayo ng karagdagang tulong para mas matustusan n'yo ang pangangailangan ng mga bata kaya pagdamutan sana ninyo ang aming nakayanan (The learning gap of our children and grandchildren is very large, so we would like to take this opportunity to narrow the learning gap to give you additional help so that you can better meet the needs of the children, so please appreciate what we have been able to do),” the mayor added.