President Duterte is counting on local government units to exert "best efforts" to immediately distribute the P1,000 worth of relief assistance to low-income people living in Greater Manila Area.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President expected the local government officials to complete the task as soon as possible. He said the President is also aware of the difficulties in distributing aid in cash or in-kind during a pandemic but still hopes they will perform this vital task satisfactorily.
The P22.9 billion supplemental amelioration program for poor beneficiaries in National Capital Region Plus was approved by the President late March.
Under the program, the government will provide aid to 22.9 million low-income people in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, which were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 29 to April 11. The lgus have been given the leeway to decide if the aid will be in the form of cash or in kind.
Metro Manila and four nearby provinces have reverted to the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month but the ECQ aid distribution has yet to be completed.
"Sa panig ng Presidente ang hinihingi lang niya ay best effort. Naiintindihan naman ni Presidente na mayroon pandemya at kinakilangan na ma-avoid natin, maiawasan ang pagtitipon, (On the part of the President, he is asking for best effort. The President understands there is a pandemic and the need to avoid mass gatherings)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday, April 12.
"Wala naman magiging problema pero ang pakiusap pa rin ay sa lalong mabilis na panahon ay sana ma-distribute na (There won't be a problem but the appeal is to complete the distribution as soon as possible)," he said.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benjamin Abalos Jr. earlier said they plan to ask the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for an extension period on the distribution of the relief aid to the ECQ beneficiaries.
Abalos, in the same press briefing, admitted it was difficult to distribute the aid within 15 days given the existing health protocols He said if LGUs would hasten the distribution, people might form crowds and become vulnerable to transmission. If LGUs resort to house-to-house distribution, he said such method will naturally take some time.