Mayor Isko gives 600,000 face masks to 846 barangays, releases ₱19.9 M in cash aid

The Manila City government distributed around 600,000 face masks to families in all of the city’s 896 barangays.

In his city address Tuesday night, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said one face mask will be given to the quarantine pass holder of each family.

Of the 600,000 face masks, 500,000 are washable, while the rest are surgical masks.

“Ito po ay ipinagkaloob sa atin ng LBC, pang-proteksyon ninyo habang bumibili ng pagkain sa labas ng inyong mga bahay (These were given to us by LBC, for your protection while you are buying food outside of your houses),” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said the masks were distributed to the barangays Tuesday evening.

The city mayor made the announcement following reports of a surge in market-goers in Blumentritt Tuesday morning apparently due to the closure of Balintawak Market in Quezon City.

The consumers reportedly failed to observe social distancing protocols while buying goods at the public market and grocery stores.

Starting Wednesday, city hall imposed window hours and opened entry and exit points in Blumentritt to regulate foot traffic in the area.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Manila has 344 COVID-19 cases. About 45 died while 30 patients recovered from the illness.

₱1,000 cash aid

The Manila City government likewise approved the release of P19,941,000 in cash assistance to 19,941 families residing in 100 barangays in the city’s six districts who have not yet received any cash aid from the local government.

Domagoso said upon reconsideration, the city government approved the requests of barangays to allocate more funds for cash assistance.

The P1,000 cash aid is sourced from the City Amelioration Crisis Assistance Fund (CACAF) which was created to financially assist Manila City residents amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“As of today, ang barangay official na nanghingi ng reconsideration ay umabot po sa 100. Itong 19,941 families, amounting to P19,941,000 ang assistance, ay inaprubahan na po para sa inyo,” the Mayor said on Facebook Live.

The Mayor also appealed for understanding from families who have yet to receive their P1,000 cash aid from the city government.

“Maraming hindi nabigyan dahil una, kalituhan ng mga tao sa barangay kung sino ililista. Hindi naman masisisi—pagod, hirap, puyat, tapos natataranta. Iyan ang kinahaharap natin sa krisis, wala ka maiisip na tama o eksaktong formula,” Domagoso said.

“Let’s just converse among each other. Ayaw ko naman po tayong magsisihan. May magandang intensyon, may masama. Gusto ko po isantabi natin lahat iyon. Hinihikayat

ko po kayo na patuloy magisip ng maganda tungo sa kapwa natin,” he added.