Vico Sotto apologizes for chaos at TUPAD aid distribution in Pasig

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Tuesday apologized as queues for the  Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program at the Rainforest Park and at Plaza Bonifacio descended into chaos.

As seen in Saleema Refran's report on "24 Oras," applicants for the program crowded each other, angry and shouting, as organizers pleaded for them to stop pushing to avoid a stampede.

Some were not even wearing their face masks properly.

"Hindi namin inaasahan na ganoon. Sa kadamihan ng tao, nagkatulakan na sila," one of the applicants said.

(We were not expecting it would be like this. Because there were so many people, people started pushing each other.)

In a statement, Sotto apologized for the incident.

"Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa panandaliang kaguluhan na nangyari sa dalawang venue ng LGU-TUPAD sign up natin," he said.

(I apologize for the brief chaos that occurred at the two venues where the LGU-TUPAD sign-ups were held.)

"Ayon sa report ng Peace and Order Department, maayos ang pila noong nag-umpisa ito kaninang umaga. Ngunit sa Plaza Bonifacio ay biglang may sumigaw ng, 'Bara-barangay ang pila!' kaya nagkagulo-gulo ang pilahan. Sa Rainforest Park naman ay may tumulak ng isang gate kaya nag-unahan ang mga tao papasok ng venue noong bumukas ito," he added.

(According to the report of the Peace and Order Department, the lines were orderly at the start this morning. But at Plaza Bonifacio somebody suddenly shouted, "Lines are according to barangay!" which resulted in chaos. At the Rainforest Park, someone pushed open a gate, so someone tried to get into the venue first.)

The TUPAD program is a community-based package of assistance that will provide temporary wage employment for displaced workers, underemployed, and self-employed workers. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News