The local government of Navotas will use P32.4 million of its allocated budget to provide financial assistance to city residents badly affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

City Appropriations Ordinance No. 2021-09 upheld the reversion of the P32.4 million to ensure that all of the city’s beneficiaries will receive financial aid.

The budget, which will be used to cover the city’s remaining beneficiaries, was originally allocated for “machinery repair and maintenance, drugs and medicines, supplies and materials, and office equipment.”

Mayor Toby Tiangco said the city had to look for additional funds since their remaining balance of P773,000 is “insufficient” to cover 13,535 beneficiaries who have yet to receive their ECQ aid.

To cover all remaining beneficiaries, Tiangco said the city had to raise P34,320,000. The amount will be distributed to 10,233 SAP waitlisted, 2,690 registered persons with disability, and 592 registered solo parents.

"We are still short of around P2 million that is why we plan to use some of our Gender and Development Fund to complete the needed amount," Tiangco said.

The mayor meanwhile sought for understanding from the public if the local government will have to “forgo some programs or projects.”

"Just like in a family, when times are hard, we tighten our belts and give priority to things that are of utmost importance. We need to spend our limited resources prudently so we could all stay afloat until the pandemic is over," he said.

Navotas City received P199,871,000 ECQ cash aid from the national government. Of this, P199,098,000 has been distributed to 27,131 beneficiaries of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Bayanihan 1; 855 recipients of SAP Bayanihan 2; 11,128 members of 4Ps; and 19,071 waitlisted in SAP.