The Makati City government has released around P364 million to some 72,777 residents as financial assistance under the city's expanded Economic Relief Program.
The “MAKA-tulong 5K for 500K+ Makatizens” program will benefit 500,000 residents, regardless of economic status.
The recipients are Makati residents who are already Makatizen card holders at the time the city announced the release of P5,000 for each qualified resident.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the amount has been transferred to the corresponding GCash accounts of Makatizen card holders from the city’s 33 barangays.
The release came exactly two days after she announced the additional benefit for residents under the P2.7-billion expanded economic relief program of the city.
“Those who already have a Makatizen Card with a valid Gcash account need not apply for the assistance since they will automatically receive P5,000 through e-Wallet. They can either cash out or withdraw the amount from any bank ATM or Globe partner outlet,” Binay said.
The city chief executive said to claim the cash from a payment center, the cardholder must present a text message confirming the remittance to one’s Makatizen e-Wallet and the government-issued ID disclosed in the Makatizen Card application form.
She also noted that many residents have now realized the importance of having their own Makatizen Card especially in these times that call for contactless means of distributing financial assistance.
“Last Tuesday alone, we recorded some 368,000 individuals who pushed to access the online application for the 5K for 500K+ Makatizens program,” she said.
Based on city records, the first batch of recipients of the P5,000-cash aid of the city government consists of 31,785 residents in District 1 and 40,992 residents in District 2. This translates to P158,925,000 for District 1 and 204,960,000 for District 2.
The distribution in District 1 barangays is as follows: Bangkal, 3,050 individuals; Bel-Air, 369; Carmona, 519; Dasmariñas, 171; Forbes Park, 167; Kasilawan, 1,054; La Paz, 1,230; Magallanes, 538; Olympia, 4,055; Palanan, 2,285; Pio del Pilar, 3,878; Poblacion, 3,090; San Antonio, 1,784; San Isidro, 1,564; San Lorenzo, 505; Singkamas, 1,372; Sta. Cruz, 1,468; Tejeros, 3,261; Urdaneta, 126; and Valenzuela, 1,299.
In District 2, the distribution is as follows: Cembo, 4,437; Comembo, 2,432; East Rembo, 4,208; Guadalupe Nuevo, 3,397; Guadalupe Viejo, 2,180; Pembo, 5,462; Pinagkaisahan, 1,024; Pitogo, 2,381; Post Proper Northside, 423; Post Proper Southside, 2,821; Rizal, 5,326; South Cembo, 2,650; and West Rembo, 4,251.
To qualify as a beneficiary of MAKA-tulong program, one must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Makati or of any of the relocation sites managed by the city government of Makati in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan and Calauan, Laguna.
One must also be registered either as a Makatizen Card holder, or as a Yellow Card holder under the Makati Health Program, or as a voter in Makati City. If a resident does not fall into any of these three categories, he or she is not eligible as a beneficiary.
Details of the application process and documentary requirements are posted on the city’s official My Makati Facebook page. A step-by-step guide to applying for the benefit is also accessible through the web portal www.proudmakatizen.com. For inquiries, Makatizens may also call hotlines 8236-5795 or 8236-5796.