The pro-poor program of Mayor Joseph Estrada called “Damayan ng Maynila-Burial Assistance” that started last Nov. 22, 2016 has benefited 2,585 indigents, according to a report submitted by the Manila Department of Social Welfare.
Nanet Tayag, MDSW officer-in-charge, said Estrada initiated the ‘Damayan’ One-Stop-Shop assistance for indigent Manileños to unburden poor city residents from the costs of burying their loved ones by offering Free Burial Assistance and Financial Assistance.
The mayor said the city doesn’t want the poor to worry where they’ll get the money to have their loved ones buried, hence his administration introduced “Damayan.”
“We know how hard up they are so we want to help them,” said Estrada.
Tayag added that the Damayan services include free burial or paupers, financial assistance, groceries, discount in funeral services, discount in apartments or cluster in north and south cemetery and endorsement for financial assistance to national agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of the Vice President.
Estrada said 525 beneficiaries of Damayan have received Burial Financial Assistance worth P3,000 and groceries from MDSW since November 2016.
MDSW report showed that as of January 2018, about 1,073 clients has already received their burial financial assistance.
Last Feb. 27, another 100 beneficiaries were given financial assistance and grocery in Bulwagang Villegas.
“In our culture, respect for the dead and the spirit of sharing and helping one another is a tradition. That’s why here in Manila, the government will always help out,” said Estrada.