Vico Sotto tells Pasig scholars: ‘You don't owe politicians anything’

When the Department of Education (DepEd) said “no one will be left behind” as they made a digital transformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pasig City—headed by Mayor Vico Sotto—started boosting its efforts to fulfill such promise to its residents.

A Scholars General Assembly was held just recently for the program’s next batch of scholars, who Sotto described in a tweet as “the next leaders of Pasig.”

He then continued the thread with another post that easily gave Filipinos another reason to admire the mayor’s leadership.

“Para sa mga ‘di umaabot sa grade requirements, puwedeng mag-apply sa CHIP-IN.. 500/month din ito, kahit puro 75 basta walang bagsak,” he wrote. This is because he understands well that students are facing different situations and challenges in life. Some may be extremely hardworking but have their hands full, while others may be experiencing external factors that could affect their grades—these, in any way, don’t make them less deserving of beneficiary initiatives.

While he appreciates those who have thanked him for his efforts, Vico reminded scholars that they don't owe politicians anything. "Laging tandaan na wala kayong utang na loob kahit kanino (lalo na sa politiko) dahil pera ito ng taumbayan. Na-a-appreciate ko naman kapag may nagpapasalamat sa kin pero naiilang ako dahil di ko pera to," he wrote in a Twitter post.

Last August, the Pasig City government got high-speed wi-fi centers to help students download their modules amid online learning. They also gave out learning devices like tablets and laptops to students and teachers in public school worth more than P1.2 billion last September, before school year 2020-2021 started a month later.

Because of this, netizens were quick to express their admiration for the Pasig City government's initiatives in line with the 'new normal' education.

Sotto beat Eusebio in the 2019 midterm elections, putting the 27-year rule of the family to an end in Pasig City. Since then, the Ateneo School of Government graduate has been praised by many for his fresh take on leadership.

Article thumbnails taken from Vico Sotto's Instagram account