THE City of Manila on Monday announced the release of nearly P649 million in cash assistance and incentives to students, city employees, health workers, and contract personnel. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that of the total amount, P302.18 million will be given to permanent city employees. Eligible personnel will receive P7,000 for medical allowance, P5,000 for Productivity Enhancement Incentive, and a P10,000 Service Recognition Incentive. The payouts are scheduled from Dec. 15 to 23. Meanwhile, P66 million will be released as gratuity pay for job order and contract of service workers, with eligible workers to receive P7,000. The city government will also release P128.13 million in PhilHealth shares for health workers in Manila’s public hospitals and the Manila Health Department, covering collections from July to November 2025. An additional P100 million from previously undistributed PhilHealth funds will also be given to medical and non-medical staff, barangay (village) health workers, nutrition scholars, and support personnel. Under the College Student Assistance Program, P46.03 million will be given to 18,235 students of the Universidad de Manila and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, covering allowances from July to September 2025. An additional P6.5 million will be released under the College Subsidy Program for the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (Earist), covering the third quarter of 2025. Moreno said that the incentives come from the money collected from taxpayers. “I ask each of you: when you deal with taxpayers or the citizens we serve, please treat them well, because our livelihood depends on their trust in giving their hard-earned money to fulfill their obligations to the Manila city government,” he said in Filipino.