Thirteen child patients will receive financial assistance, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said on Friday, 20 February, for life-saving treatments at the Philippine Heart Center, Chinese General Hospital, and healthcare facilities in India.

The beneficiaries include eight children scheduled for liver transplants in India, four who will undergo heart operations at the Philippine Heart Center, and one patient set for surgery for a chronic kidney condition at Chinese General Hospital.

The city government allocated P13,321,629.80 for the eight liver transplant cases, P3,323,311.50 for the four heart operations, and P173,616.19 for the kidney procedure, bringing the total assistance to P16,818,557.49.

During a meeting with the families, Domagoso said: “Pagkatapos nito, una, magpasalamat kayo sa Diyos, ha? Magsimba kayo. Tapos, kung ’di man kalabisan, magpasalamat din kayo sa taxpayer ng Manila. Dahil sa kanila, nagagawa namin ’to. We’ll do our best, bagama’t gipit na gipit kami bilang siyudad. Kaya lamang, buhay ng mga anak niyo ’yung nakasalalay, eh.”

He also advised families of patients bound for India to reserve personal savings for post-operation needs, emphasizing the transplant itself remains the priority.

“’Yung naipon niyo, ’wag niyo nang gastusin. Importante ’yung operation, ’yung transplant, oh, maiayos,” he said.

Domagoso assured the families that the city government would continue to assist them while acknowledging Manila’s fiscal constraints.

“Ang susunod niyong kakailanganin, si Jesus na. ’Yung pinakamalaki niyong problema sa lupa — which is pera — ay sinagot na ng taxpayer of Manila. The next time around, you, I, and many (including you) should continue to pray. Magdasal kayo na maging ligtas ’yung transplant, ’yung operation ng mga anak at apo ninyo. May awa ang Diyos, ’wag kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa,” he added.