Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna led the distribution of financial assistance for hundreds of the most needy public school students in the city.
Lacuna was joined by Manila department of social welfare chief Re Fugoso and barangay chair Evelyn de Guzman during the distribution of the said 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 totaling 935 in all received P5,000 each and came from Districts 1,2,4,5 and Baseco. The amount given for the said elementary and high school students totaled over P4.6 million.
Fugoso explained that the said students classified as ‘under case management’ sought help from the city government owing to their dire situation which makes it impossible for them to sustain the extra expenses entailed by their already free education.
In her message, Lacuna called on the student-recipients to make sure that they do good in school and finish their education.
“Bagama’t hindi kalakihan, ang tulong na ito ay aming ibinibigay para kahit paano ay maibsan ang inyong pangaraw-araw na pangangailangan,” the lady mayor said, noting that even if education is free, there will always be additional expenses that will crop up.
“Meron pa ring mga tustusin na kailangang gastusan kagaya ng projects at activities ng inyong mga anak na minsan, pino-problema ninyo kung saan kukunin ang panggastos. Bagamat P5,000 lang, dalangin po namin na makatulong ito sa inyo dahil ang inyong pamahalaan, gagawin ang lahat para lamang maitawid ninyo ang pag-aaral ng inyong mga anak,” she added.
Lacuna appealed to the students to study well, stressing a diploma is the greatest gift that they could offer their parents.
“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,” she said.
On the other hand, Lacuna also appealed to all the parents present to never get tired of guiding their children and providing them with all their needs, assuring that the city government is doing everything possible to help.