Isko Moreno: Pandemic borrowing benefited 2 million Manileños

Isko Moreno with running mate Chi Atienza

MANILA, Philippines – The borrowing of millions of pesos and the sale of some city government properties are being raised against former Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso since he announced his intention to once again lead the City of Manila.

Domagoso did not deny these actions and explained that the city was just starting to gain momentum when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, only a few months after he took office in 2020.

According to Domagoso, as the head of the city, he had to find ways and act decisively to prevent the two million residents of Manila from dying of Covid-19 and extreme hunger.

He emphasized that education for Manila’s children continued because he provided them with computer tablets with internet load, and the teachers were given laptop computers to support online classes.

He also claimed that no one in the city went hungry, as all families—whether poor or wealthy—regularly received family food packs.

Domagoso proudly stated that Manila was the first to build its own isolation facility in front of the Quirino Grandstand and was among the first local governments to purchase anti-Covid-19 vaccines. In addition, the city stockpiled oxygen tanks and medicines that helped many recover from the deadly disease.

According to the former mayor, everything was done to help the city and its residents survive the height of the pandemic, even if it meant spending billions of pesos under his administration.