The city government of Manila released ₱5 million in capital assistance to 1,000 small business owners as part of its effort to strengthen the local economy amid global uncertainty driven by the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led the distribution on Thursday, May 7, at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate under the city’s Kaagapay sa Kabuhayan Program, where each beneficiary received ₱5,000 in seed capital to start or expand microenterprises such as food stalls, snack vending, and other small livelihood ventures.
Domagoso said the program aims to help residents cope with rising economic pressures affecting households in the capital, stressing that the assistance should be treated as starting capital to be grown through discipline and proper financial management.
“Habang may buhay, may pag-asa,” the mayor told beneficiaries, urging them to use the aid responsibly and reinvest earnings into their businesses instead of immediate consumption.
He also cited the broader economic impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, noting its ripple effects on local prices and employment stability.
Alongside the cash aid, the city distributed 100 starter kits across seven livelihood categories, including unisex hair cutting, massage therapy, nail care, bread and pastry production, hair dressing, cookery, and skin care services. The largest share went to hair-cutting kits with 28 recipients.
Beneficiaries came from Manila’s six congressional districts, BASECO, and the Manila Manpower Development Center, totaling 1,020 participants. Priority groups included persons with disabilities, solo parents, senior citizens, indigent families, and technical-vocational graduates.
Domagoso also emphasized the importance of long-term thinking and saving habits, encouraging recipients to practice delayed gratification to ensure sustainable income growth.
He concluded by calling for collective effort between government and citizens, saying the city’s recovery and growth cannot depend on public programs alone.
