Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya has promised to provide a P500 monthly cash allowance to all public school students, in addition to existing feeding and free breakfast programs, if she wins the upcoming midterm elections.

This comes as Discaya’s running mate, vice mayoral candidate Iyo Caruncho-Bernardo, announced the pledge to local constituents during a caucus meeting in Barangay Oranbo on Wednesday evening.

“For our youth, to further encourage them to study hard, aside from free uniforms, school supplies, bags and shoes, our government still needs to help our parents,” Caruncho-Bernardo said.

“For the children here, who among you wants extra allowance? You know, maybe it’s time for at least P500 for all students here in Pasig City. Our city can afford it,” he added.

Caruncho-Bernardo, a former Pasig vice mayor and grandson of former Pasig mayor Emiliano Caruncho, also said they are considering increasing the cash assistance for the city’s college scholars.

Discaya also vowed to increase the Christmas cash gift for senior citizens from P3,000 to P5,000, on top of the P500 monthly pension for the elderly starting at age 60.

“Ate Sarah said why don’t we amend the ordinance so that once you turn 60, you will receive P500. And those who are already receiving will have it doubled, so it will become P1,000,” Caruncho-Bernardo said.

He added that in 2018, as vice mayor, he and the city council passed a law increasing the Christmas cash gift for seniors from P2,500 to P3,000.

“But seven years have passed, so we will make it P5,000 that you will receive every Christmas. I am mentioning this because this is Ate Sarah’s dream,” the vice mayoral candidate said.