SOME families from known subdivisions here, through Facebook posts, have cited Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. for his dedication in providing food packs and other assistance to all families from the 33 barangays in Angeles City.
Lazatin reiterated that all forms of assistance from the city government will be for all – regardless of the status of his constituents.
“Mayaman man o mahirap, lahat po ay makakatanggap ng mga ayudang binababa ng City Hall sa bawat barangay dito sa siyudad,” he said.
Lazatin also commended the generous hearts of some middle-class families who waived their food packages. Instead, they asked to just give them to those who need it more.
Hazel Santiago, a grocery owner in San Ignacio Subdivision, Barangay Pandan waived her food pack and requested to donate it to a solo parent in their neighborhood.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa ating city government, dahil hindi po sila namimili ng bibigyan nila. Kahit po may second floor ang bahay namin at may tindahan pa kami sa harap, binigyan pa rin kami,” she said.
Meanwhile, Reylen Garcia, a resident from San Ignacio Subdivision, Barangay Pandan, said in her post that Mayor Lazatin is giving “affirmation that residents from subdivisions are also valued and treated as people in distress.”
She said the Lazatin administration, during this trying time, is also considering their needs as part of the community.
For her part, Olive Yumang Pallasigue, a resident of Metro Clark in Barangay Pulung Maragul who received food assistance from the city government, thanked Mayor Lazatin for paying attention to the community.
“Thank you Mayor Lazatin and your staff, nabigyan din ng pansin ang Metro Clark Ph2 Barangay Pulung Maragul. Thank you rin po sa mga Barangay officials and to the frontliners in-charge of the distribution,” she wrote.
An elderly couple from Barangay Pulung Maragul, whose children are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong and Kuwait and a business owner in the Ccty themselves, said the food and financial assistance they received from the city government will help them cope up during this community quarantine.
“Lahat po kasi tayo ay nahihirapan. Yung mga anak na inaasahan din po namin sa abroad ay apektado doon, pati na rin yung business nung isa kong anak dito, na-stop muna dahil sa Covid,” Estelito Canlas, a retired OFW, said.
Canlas’s wife, Evangeline, added that even if her family still has savings, it will also be hard for them to survive if the lockdown will not end soon. That is why the assistances coming from the city hall are a big help.
“Kahit po may ipon kami, kung hindi matatapos agad itong quarantine, nahihirapan din kami. Meron man po o wala, salamat po hindi kami nalilimutan,” she said.
Also, residents from Fiesta Communities in Barangay Tabun and Barangay Mining leave thank you notes, glued to chairs placed outside of their homes, to express their gratitude to Lazatin, frontliners, and health workers during the simultaneous house-to-house distribution.
“Thank you to each and every front liner for your service to the nation,” a note posted in Barangay Tabun said.
Shine Danting, also a resident of Fiesta Communities Tabun, posted a photo of the relief pack she received from the City Government with a caption of “Thank you po mayor from Fiesta Communities Tabun po.”
“Thank you so much po Mayor and to all front liners. God bless to all from Fiesta Communities in Barangay Mining,” Lopa Eip Airadus added.
RK Rez, a Clarkview Barangay Malabanias resident, commented on a photo in the CIO Facebook page where 3 kids made a note saying “Thank you, front liners.”
“Thank you for your help front liners. Thank you Mayor Pogi for the relief goods from Lanzones St. Clarkview Malabanias,” Rez also wrote.
A food pack beneficiary from Barangay Mining, Cecil Lagman, also sent a photo of a thank you note of a child.
Elsa Tupaz, a housewife from Barangay Pandan, whose husband and children are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and a nurse a the Department of Health (DOH) recognized the efforts of the city government, led by Lazatin in aiming to help all families in the city, proving that there is no “palakasan system” in Angeles City.
“Nakatanggap po kami ng relief. Patunay lamang po na walang palakasan pagdating sa mga binibigay ng city hall para sa mga tao,” she said.
Moreover, families at the L & S Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Domingo and Barangay Balibago also left thank you notes to the city government for extending a helping hand to the community.
“Thank you po from Dona Josefa Don Bonifacio. Kanina namigay sila ng noodles, bigas at sardinas. Nangatok po sila bahay-bahay. Yun ang maganda pantay-pantay. Walang mahirap, walang mayaman. Sa panahon ngayon, lahat ay nangangailangan. Thank you po sa lahat ng nagpunta dito at sa kinauukulan,” Paewee Princess wrote.
Carlina Majait, a business owner of a clothing brand in the city said, “Thank you so much mayor! God bless po and also the frontliners at sa mga naghatid ng relief goods. Stay safe po. God bless from the bottom of heart and my family.”
Lazatin ordered to prepare 280,000 more food packs. (PR)