Mayor Mark Go Courtesy: Mayor Mark Go FB page
BAGUIO City Rep. Mark Go urged Mayor Benjamin Magalong to adopt a supportive stance should the representative manage to secure financial assistance funding from government agencies for Baguio residents.
At the same time, Go urged the Baguio City mayor not to politicize aid.
The lawmaker made the statements after Magalong claimed that the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives was supposedly facilitating the disbursement of government financial assistance from programs such as Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) through what the mayor called a “7-7-7 Ayuda System”.
“Hindi totoo ang sinasabi niyang ‘seven-seven-seven.’ AKAP, AICS, and TUPAD are national government programs of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. with well-defined processes and oversight mechanisms,” Go said.
“Ginagawa po natin ang ating trabaho para masiguradong may budget ang mga national programs para sa Baguio. Dapat supportive at nakikipag tulungan siya kapag naipaglalaban natin ang budget para sa Baguio City dahil tumutulong ito na guminhawa ang buhay ng mga higit na nangangailangan,” he added.
Local chief executives, such as Magalong, as stated in his video interview, also ask national lawmakers to add budget to programs and projects that will be exclusively implemented on a local level.
“Ang city government ay may social funds rin at alam ko na ginagamit niya rin ito para sa mga taga-Baguio. Supportive tayo dito,” said the lawmaker.
“Our role is limited in facilitating these government assistance programs, which are implemented strictly in accordance with the law and existing guidelines. Every peso is accounted for and used solely to benefit those in need. These funds are not tied to any individual or office but are directly allocated to support our fellow Filipinos in need,” Go added.
