By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso has authorized the release of nearly P689 million in cash benefits for 359,295 beneficiaries, providing financial assistance to police officers, firefighters, jail personnel, public school teachers, students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents in one of the city’s biggest social assistance payouts this year.
During his “Talk to the People” Facebook livestream on Tuesday, Moreno announced that P688,901,100 has been earmarked for distribution under three major assistance programs, with payouts beginning this week and continuing later this month.
“This is taxpayers’ money being returned to the people through programs that directly improve their lives,” Moreno said, stressing that the city remains committed to responsible and efficient public spending.
According to the City Treasurer’s Office, headed by Atty. Paul Vega, the total allocation consists of:
P158.76 million for benefits under city-funded ordinances covering 40,250 beneficiaries, to be released from July 8 to 11;
P452.35 million in monetary assistance for 293,655 beneficiaries, scheduled for release from July 22 to 24; and
P77.79 million in Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Social Pension funds for 25,930 senior citizens, also set for distribution from July 22 to 24.
Of the total amount, P611.11 million comes from the Manila City Government, while P77.79 million is funded by the national government through the DSWD.
Among the beneficiaries are 4,447 personnel of the Manila Police District, who will receive P2,500 monthly incentives covering April to June, amounting to more than P33.3 million.
Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (358) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (431) will receive the same incentives for the three-month period.
The city will also release P69.24 million in incentives to 12,466 public school teachers, equivalent to P2,000 per month from April to June.
Education assistance also forms part of the payout package.
A total of 5,524 Grade 12 students under the Division of City Schools-Manila will receive P500 each for June.
Meanwhile, 9,155 students of Universidad de Manila (UDM) and 7,869 students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) will each receive P1,000 for April and May.
The city will likewise release two quarterly subsidy allocations totaling P13.61 million for students of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST).
The city’s financial assistance program also covers 11,515 minor PWDs, 51,766 adult PWDs, and 17,281 solo parents, each of whom will receive P500 monthly for April to June.
The biggest allocation goes to 212,553 senior citizens, who will receive P500 monthly for the same three-month period, amounting to P331.45 million.
In addition, 25,930 seniors enrolled in the DSWD Social Pension Program will receive another P1,000 per month from the national government, allowing qualified recipients to receive both city and national benefits.
Moreno emphasized that Manila’s senior citizen assistance program remains inclusive, with eligibility based solely on age and residency, regardless of economic status.
He urged beneficiaries to monitor the official release schedule and encouraged residents to share the city’s announcements to ensure everyone entitled to assistance is properly informed.
The mayor concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparent governance, saying every peso collected from taxpayers must be returned to the people through programs that provide tangible and immediate benefits.
ia/xf
