Aid distribution in ECQ areas starts Aug. 11: DILG

MANILA – The distribution of cash aid for qualified recipients in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Each qualified individual will receive PHP1,000 cash, with every household getting a maximum of PHP4,000.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said local government units (LGUs) have been instructed to ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to during the distribution.

The recipients are those who got the monetary assistance in April and May as per the database submitted by the LGUs.

“Ang atin pong mga NCR (National Capital Region) LGUs ay nagkasundo na sa Wednesday (Aug. 11) ay sisimulan ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa ating mga kababayang naapektuhan (The NCR LGUs have agreed to simultaneously start the assistance distribution on Wednesday),’’ Año told President Rodrigo Duterte during the Cabinet meeting on Monday night.

He added that the police and military will help maintain an orderly distribution process.

Año sought for a supplemental budget of PHP278 million to ensure that all qualified recipients in the NCR, which is under ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20, will receive the national government’s financial assistance.

He noted that low-income individuals and families temporarily or permanently staying in Metro Manila at the time the ECQ was imposed and who were identified by the LGUs will get the cash aid.

“Magbibigay po ako ng ulat kada linggo kapag nagsimula na po ang ating pagbibigay ng ayuda (I will provide a weekly report once the distribution starts),’’ he said.

Año also said LGUs were given advisories to aggressively conduct Covid-19 testing, contact tracing, and isolation of positive patients in designated facilities.

“Ang ating ECQ ay magpapatuloy sa loob ng dalawang linggo at pipilitin po nating mapigilan ang pagkalat ng Covid sa paghihigpit sa paggalaw o pagbiyahe ng ating mga mamamayan na nasa loob ng ECQ (The ECQ will continue for two weeks and we will try our best to prevent the spread of Covid through restricted mobility or travel),’’ he said.

Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar also assured they will assist LGUs during the ayuda distribution and in vaccination centers.