Manila, Feb. 14 -- The city government has allocated PHP600 million for the Lingap para sa Mahirap program this year, an official said Friday.

Ytalia Bohol, officer-in-charge of the Lingap Program, said the amount is significantly higher than last year's PHP400 million budget.

In 2024, the program served 188,472 people. The main office and satellite offices served 700 to 800 clients daily.

The Lingap para sa Mahirap Program helps underprivileged residents with funeral expenses, medical bills, and medications.

"We also prioritize cancer patients," Bohol said in an interview. "The city government increased the funding to accommodate the growing number of clients."

Most clients seek help with medication costs, she said.

"They can ask f...