Various Metro Manila local chief executives on Friday joined former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in highlighting the importance of bayanihan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Malaking bagay ang bayanihan sapagkat (Helping each other is a big thing because) the national government cannot do it alone and the local government cannot do it alone,” San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said during Metro Manila edition of the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program on August 13.
“So, malaking bagay talaga na (it is a big thing that) from different sectors of society, nagtutulungan (people are helping each other),” he added.
Two-hundred fifty (250) pre-selected beneficiaries from the cities of San Juan, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Pasig, and Manila received their 10K Ayuda from Cayetano and his group in Friday’s program.
Sixty-five (65) beneficiaries were also chosen by Cayetano during the Facebook livestream.
“Actually, kailangan talaga nagkakaisa tayo. Napakaimportante ang bayanihan,” Malabon City Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta III said.
(Actually, we really have to be united. Bayanihan is very important.)
Aside from Zamora and Oreta, local government officials from the cities of Muntinlupa and Pasig, including Pasig City Mayor Victor Maria Regis “Vico” Sotto, sent their video messages, expressing gratitude and support for Cayetano’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa program.
“Tunay ngang mas matatag tayo bilang isang bansa kapag tayo ay nagtutulungan,” Muntinlupa City Mayor Atty. Jaime Fresnedi said.
(It is true that our country is stronger when we help each other.)
“Ano mang pagsubok ay kaya nating lagpasan basta’t may bayanihan,” he added.
(We can get through anything as long as we have bayanihan.)
For his part, Cayetano encouraged the public to call on their respective local government officials and on the national government for help.
“Pakiusap ko po, i-post niyo sa Facebook niyo, sa Facebook ng House of Representatives, sa Senado, [at] sa Malakañang na kailangang-kailangan na natin ng tulong,” Cayetano said.
(I am asking the public to post on your respective Facebook profiles and on the Facebook profiles of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Malacañan Palace that we are in dire need of help.)
“Syempre ang gobyerno binabalanse niya lahat. Pero ‘pag nakikita na niya na labis po ang kahirapan natin… alam niyo po maiisip at makikita nila na importante ‘to (10K Ayuda) at nandiyan po ang pera,” he added.
(Of course the government needs to balance everything. But once it sees that the people are suffering too much, it will see that the 10K Ayuda is important and that the money is there.)
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-asa campaign takes off from Cayetano’s economic recovery plan which seeks to distribute cash aid to Filipino families to help them purchase their basic needs and revive their sources of income amid the ongoing pandemic.
The program has since distributed cash aid to 8,490 Filipinos, most of whom have invested a part of their aid to jumpstart their small businesses.###
