Biñan LGU includes gated subdivision residents in house-to-house cash aid distribution

BIÑAN, Laguna - The local government unit (LGU) here assured that every resident will receive financial assistance, including those who are living in the most prestigious gated community in the city.

In an interview with DZMM's Kuwentuhang Lokal on May 5, Mayor Arman Dimaguila said they distributed cash aid to all city residents within 11 days without having to follow a master list. To accomplish the task, the city government made use of every resource within reach, including its community radio station.

"'Yung pinaka-mayaman sigurong subdivision sa Calabarzon, Brentville, pinasok din po yan dahil may mga kasambahay, security guard, mga hardinero (Perhaps the richest subdivision in Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon, Brentville, we also covered that because there are household helpers, security guards, and gardeners there)," Dimaguila said.

Brentville International Community is a 54-hectare village that also houses Brent International School.

Dimaguila admitted that the cash aid budget from the national government was short of P70 million because it was based on the 2015 population data. To make up for the deficit, the LGU sat down and identified projects they could postpone until next year to realign the budget for the cash aid.

"Ang nagiging kasanayan ng mga kababayan natin, laging may duda sa gobyerno. Laging, 'Hindi kami kasama diyan, bibigyan lang diyan mahihirap, samantalang kami apektado rin ng COVID' (People are used to doubting the government. They think, 'We're not included there, they'll only give assistance to the poor even though we're also affected by COVID-19')," Dimaguila said.

"Pero ang mga middle class na nasa subdivision, sinasabi nila, ngayon lang nila naramdaman na sila ay kabahagi ng pamahalaan (But the middle class in subdivisions, they say they now feel that they're part of the government)."

On April 21, Biñan was recognized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IV-A as one of the first LGUs in Calabarzon to accomplish the 100 percent distribution of the emergency financial assistance.