The largest national volunteer organizing network supporting the presidential candidacy of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso stood firm in its advocacies, heeding Moreno’s call to implement community service activities in various areas of the country, provide assistance to the people and cushion the effects of the pandemic and the rising prices of petroleum products.
Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas resumed its weekly community service focused on sectoral organizations dubbed “ISKOwentuhan sa Barangay,” which aimed to alleviate the effects of the continuously rising prices of petroleum products that have resulted in an additional burden for the Filipinos who are already facing the ill-effects of the Covid19 global pandemic for the last two years.
The activity also seeks to strengthen connections with supporters from the grassroots level and realize the pro-people programs of YormeIsko Moreno on “buhay and kabuhayan” (life and livelihood).
“We know the ill effects of the Covid19 pandemic and the spike in prices of basic commodities to the lives of our people, that is why we always heed to the Tao Muna program of Yorme Isko Moreno… kailangan kasi talaga na direktang makarating sa ating mga kababayan ang tulong maliit man o malaki,” said IM Pilipinas Central Luzon convenor and Pampanga Board Member Jun Canlas.
The group extended assistance, this time, to members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) in several cities and neighboring provinces that include Taguig, San Juan, Pampanga, Quezon Province, Tarlac, Zambales, and Rizal Province where at least 1,800 individuals received “ayuda” in the form of groceries and gas coupons in partnership with Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.
“As what we have started months ago, we are bent on providing assistance to our kababayans especially those underprivileged to keep them going in their day to day lives. With the so many challenges we have gone through, we are committed to help as what Yorme Isko is saying, Tao Muna,” Canlas explained.
“We remain committed to execute programs being pushed by Yorme Isko Moreno… to help in making the lives of our people easier especially these trying times. We believe that this fuel subsidy that we offered to our TODA members adheres to Yorme’s call,” IM Pilipinas Tarlac Chapter head Patrick Agustin, for his part said.
The IM Pilipinas BilisKilos Mobile Team is a roving propaganda group that brings to the ground IM Pilipinas’ visibility and sustained reaching-out activities. Initially focused on 13 areas nationwide, the BilisKilos Mobile Team aims to create impact in high density areas such as Public Market, Church, Plaza and Tourist Spots, among others. The team also distributed flyers and recruited more volunteers while playing the official Jingle of Isko Moreno’s Team BilisKilos.
IM Pilipinas is set to execute the same program in Butuan and Nueva Ecija in the coming week.
“We will continue with our pro-people programs to provide assistance to our kababayans in our humble ways. We believe that our people deserve a better life considering the major challenges we all have gone through these past years,” IM Pilipinas Pampanga convenor Rio Cunanan said.
“Sa panahong ito ng pagkakawatak-watak bunsod ng eleksyon, kailangan pa rin ang pagkakaisa sa ating mamamayan upang manatiling malakas sa pagharap sa magkakasunod na mga pagsubok,” he added.
Meanwhile, the group has led various volunteer groups recently, in urging the government to urgently collect the P203 billion tax debt of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr and his family in estate taxes.
The groups said that once collected, such an amount could be utilized by the government in providing help for all including the lowering of petroleum product prices.
IM Pilipinas also urged different volunteer organizations from different political spectrums to unite and stand together for a single presidential candidate who could foil a Marcos jr. victory and the possible come back of the country in its darkest past under a Marcos regime.
