The Department of the Interior and Local Government has extended the deadline for the distribution of financial assistance or “ayuda” to low-income individuals and families in Metro Manila to August 31 upon the request of some National Capital Region LGUs.
“Upon the request of the LGUs and with the concurrence of (Social Welfare) Secretary (Rolando) Bautista and (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana, we have decided to give the LGUs in the NCR until the end of the month to complete the distribution of ayuda,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a media release on Wednesday.
Año said the decision to extend the deadline for the payout was made after some Metro Manila LGUs requested more time in completing the payout given the limited mobility and manpower to finish the payout due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 in NCR.
“The mayors also need more time to process appeals and grievances, so it is justified for us to give an extension,” he said.
Local government units need help in shouldering the cost of handing out cash aid to residents affected by granular lockdowns, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos also said Wednesday.
At the Laging Handa briefing, Abalos said he is asking the National Economic and Development Authority for a cost-sharing of expenses to help these residents.
“I am asking him (NEDA chief Secretary Karl Chua), if the granular lockdowns take long, could there be a cost-sharing program if possible,” he said.
Abalos said LGUs shoulder the assistance that are given to residents affected by the granular lockdowns imposed amid the spread of COVID-19 and pointed out LGUs might be burdened with the expenses someday.
On Tuesday, it was reported that some Quezon City residents appealed to the local government for more aid as their communities were placed under a granular lockdown.
As of August 19, 3,641 areas in Metro Manila are under granular lockdown.
Meanwhile, Ano lauded Caloocan City and Mayor Oscar Malapitan for being the only NCR LGU completing its “ayuda” distribution ahead of the deadline.
He also commended the other NCR LGUs because a total of 80.96 percent or PHP9.1-billion out of the PHP11.2-billion ayuda from the national government has been distributed by the LGUs to the beneficiaries as of August 24, 2021.
“This means that for every 10 low-income individuals, eight have already received their ayuda. This translates to more than nine million people in Metro Manila who received and benefitted from the assistance. This is the fastest distribution we’ve had in NCR since the start of the pandemic and we did this with people complying with minimum health standards,” Ano said.
A total of 9,101,999 low-income individuals have received their ayuda in NCR from August 11-24, 2021.
Metro Manila LGUs were initially given 15 days to complete the ayuda payout. The distribution of ayuda started on August 11 and was supposed to end on August 25, subject to appeals for extension from the LGUs.
Under Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 3, s. 2021 signed by the DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of National Defense, those affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR will receive financial assistance of PHP1,000 per low-income individual with a maximum of PHP4,000 per low-income family.
The whole of Metro Manila was placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20, 2021 pursuant to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 130-E.
The DILG chief said nearing the finish line and garnering the highest percentage of ayuda distributed are the municipality of Pateros, and the cities of Pasay, Manila, and Mandaluyong with 97.34 percent, 95.16 percent, 91.57 percent, and 85.84 percent, respectively.
A total of eight LGUs in NCR have at least an 80 percent distribution rate as of August 24.
Año assured the public that the DILG, in close coordination with LGUs and the Philippine National Police, is ensuring the safety and security of all those involved during the distribution of ayuda, as well as the strict observance of minimum public health standards against the spread of COVID-19.