P3.29-B worth of ‘ayuda’ distributed in NCR

MANILA – Around 3.2 million beneficiaries have benefitted from the financial aid that has been distributed in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Año said a total of PHP3.29 billion in cash aid (ayuda) was distributed to 3,299,290 qualified beneficiaries in the National Capital Region (NCR) which was placed under the ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20 to slow down the Covid-19 Delta variant transmission.

He noted that this translated to 29.31 percent distributed since it started on August 11 assuring that the handing out of financial assistance to the low-income individuals will continue in the coming days.

Upon order of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Año also said the DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of National Defense (DND) in coordination with the local chief executives (LCEs) are supervising and monitoring the financial assistance distribution.

“Mula noong Wednesday (Aug. 11) ay nagsimula na po ang ating pagbibigay alinsunod sa mga probisyon ng Joint Memorandum Circular No. 3 ng DILG, DSWD at NCR. Kaya po makikita natin dito sa screen ay total of 3,299,290,000 na po ang naipamigay natin, for a total of 29.31 percent mula po Miyerkules,” he said during Duterte’s weekly Talk to the People Monday night.

Año earlier gave the local government units (LGUs) 15 days to dispense the ayuda upon the downloading of the cash to them through the bank but agreed to extend the distribution.

He pointed out that the LGUs of Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Caloocan City and Parañaque City used electronic and bank-assisted options to distribute the national government’s monetary assistance.

Initially, Duterte approved the release of PHP10.89 billion ayuda for the ECQ hit NCR recipients and later gave the go-signal to add another PHP368 million, bringing the total cash aid to PHP11.256 billion.

This is on top of the PHP2.7 billion and PHP700 million approved cash aid budget for the low-income individuals in Laguna and Bataan, respectively which were also placed under ECQ.

Laguna will be under ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20 while Bataan will be under similar restrictions from August 8 to 22.

“Within the week po ay magsisimula na ang pamimigay ng ayuda at sisiguraduhin nating makakaabot sa mga nangangailangan at walang abuso o anumang korapsyon na magaganap (The start of the ayuda distribution will start within the week and we will assure that this will reach the needy individuals and no corruption or any abuses will be committed),’’ Año said.

He said the lists of the qualified beneficiaries were posted in the respective offices, websites and official social media platforms of the LGUs in Metro Manila for the public to view the rosters.

Each qualified resident in ECQ areas will receive cash assistance of PHP1,000 each or up to a maximum of PHP4,000 per family.