Navotas City mayor to donate salary until end-term to residents unable to receive cash aid

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiango said on Sunday he will be donating his salary until the end of his term to residents who fail to receive financial assistance from the government amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Pina-compute ko na po ang sweldo ko simula April 2020 hanggang matapos ang termino ko sa June 2022. Ito ay aabot sa P3,291,809.76 (P121,918.88 x 27 months). Kahit hindi ko pa natatanggap ito, idodonate ko na ang buong halaga para mabigyan ang mga kababayan nating hindi nakatanggap ng SAP,” said Tiangco in a Facebook post.

[Translation: I asked for a computation of my salary from April 20 until the end of my term in June 2022. It will reach a total of ₱3,291,809.76 (P121,918.88 x 27 months). Even if I haven’t received it yet, I will be donating the entire amount so that it may be given to our countrymen who did not receive anything through the SAP.]

Tiangco said the city’s social welfare and development office shall be in charge of determining who shall receive money and how much the amount would be.

“Ang payo ko lang ay isiping mabuti kung magkano ang ibibigay at sino ang bibigyan. Halimbawa po, kapag P8,000 per family, 411 families ang mabibigyan. Kapag P4,000 per family, 822 families ang mabibigyan,” the mayor said.

[Translation: My only advice is to think carefully about how much should be given and who should receive it. For example, if each family receives ₱8,000, 411 families will benefit. If ₱4,000 will be allotted for each family, 822 families will benefit.]

Navotas City remains under lockdown with the rest of the National Capital Region and other high-risk provinces in Luzon, with the extension of the enhanced community quarantine until May 15. The city currently has 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 8 deaths and 7 recoveries.

On Sunday, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista said government funds for the social amelioration program are running low.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque previously said the amount supposedly for the second wave of financial aid for families in the provinces will be given instead to residents of Metro Manila and other areas remaining under enhanced community quarantine.

READ: No more cash aid to poor families in areas removed from lockdown – Roque