By Chito Chavez  The Quezon City government on Sunday has included in its expanded financial assistance program called "Kalingang QC’’ program the high-risk nursing mothers who are among the most affected sectors of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
(Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Mayor Joy Belmonte noted that some 6,000 nursing mothers in the city will start receiving P2,000 from the program which was widened to cover more residents who need immediate help. “Nutritionally-challenged lactating mothers in Quezon City are now covered by the local government’s expanded financial assistance program for those greatly affected by the ECQ,’’ Belmonte said. Earlier, the city government has set aside P600 million from its P2.8-billion supplemental budget for 2020 for the expansion of the Kalingang QC initiative. Belmonte noted her administration expanded the program after it was discovered during the initial roll-out that many vendors were not accounted for on the initial list, including sellers of dry goods and cellular phone accessories. Aside from unregistered vendors, Belmonte said also covered by the expanded program are ambulant and unregistered vendors, solo parents, persons with disability (PWDs), and senior citizens. During the Kalingang QC’s initial roll-out, the city government earmarked P200 million for 100,000 residents covering drivers of public utility jeeps, tricycles, pedicabs, taxis, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and AUVs, market vendors, and other daily wage earners affected by the ECQ. As of April 25, around 42,898 residents have received P2,000 financial assistance from the city government.