(Photo: Mayor Francis Zamora Facebook page)
MANILA, (PIA) — San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Tuesday defended City Ordinance No. 26, Series of 2024, which establishes guidelines for the operation and maintenance of evacuation centers in response to disasters. The ordinance was unanimously approved by the city council and aims to ensure the safety and orderliness of these centers during emergencies.
Mayor Zamora emphasized that the ordinance is not intended to restrict aid but to maintain safety and proper coordination among those providing assistance.
“We want to ensure that our citizens in evacuation centers are safe and that all donations are properly managed,” he said, noting that the local government has a responsibility to evaluate all donations to guarantee their safety and quality.
The ordinance requires all donations to be channeled through the Office of the Mayor, with violations resulting in a P5,000 fine.
This, however, has sparked criticism from Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, both former mayors of San Juan. They described the ordinance as “vindictive and political,” arguing that it complicates the distribution of aid to disaster victims.
Ejercito said, “Mixing politics and vindictiveness with aid distribution for San Juan residents is unacceptable. San Juaneños deserve better.” He expressed concern that imposing fines on those wanting to help is unjust and could discourage charitable efforts.
Estrada, for his part, echoed these sentiments, adding that all forms of assistance are crucial during disasters. “As a legislator, I know that there is no existing law that prohibits helping the needy, especially in times of emergency,” he said.
In contrast, Mayor Zamora reiterated the need for proper coordination to ensure the safety of evacuees.
“If we don’t have this policy, how do we know that what they want to distribute is safe for our people?” he said.
Zamora insisted that the ordinance is not politically motivated and called for respect for local laws.
The chief executive also noted that other organizations have successfully coordinated with his office before providing aid, highlighting recent contributions from House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who distributed food packs and plans to add cash assistance for evacuees.
The ordinance also designates specific city departments for maintaining evacuation centers and outlines volunteer roles for aid distribution and victim support. (JVD/PIA-NCR)
