The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already downloaded more than P3.57-billion worth of “special” cash assistance to the local government units (LGUs) in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
The DSWD said its Field Office VI has already released more than P2.6 billion funds to benefit around 600,000 families in the Iloilo province including Iloilo City, while its DSWD FO X downloaded over P978.8 million funds to cover 191,956 families in Cagayan de Oro City and 53,000 families in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
“Individuals and families affected by the localized ECQ in the towns of Anilao, Mina, Tubungan, Miag-ao, Pavia, Zarraga, New Lucena, Mina, Pototan, Maasin, Bingawan, Barotac Nuevo, and Dingle in Iloilo Province have received their financial assistance as the LGUs started the conduct of special AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) distribution on July 31,” it said in a statement.
“Other LGUs in the province will announce the final schedule for payouts to their qualified constituents.”
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/01/ecq-affected-individuals-families-in-western-visayas-start-receiving-govts-special-ayuda/
More than one million individuals and families affected by ECQ in Visayas and Mindanao are targeted to receive “special” cash assistance from the government.
The DSWD announced on July 26 the provision of cash assistance to Iloilo province including Iloilo City; Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, more than six hours before President Duterte physically delivered his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa.
The recipients are set to receive P1,000 cash assistance for each member with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family through the AICS of the DSWD.
The DSWD said eligible recipients of the special AICS in Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City are expected to receive their cash aid following the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on August 3 with the concerned LGUs.
“Through this agreement, the Department is assured that the needed assistance will be delivered to eligible beneficiaries while abiding by the specific provisions contained in the guidelines set forth,” said DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Felicisimo Budiongan.
He represented Secretary Rolando Bautista during the MOA signing.
The DSWD said in preparation of the rollout of the Special AICS in Northern Mindanao, its FO X initiated a virtual conference on July 26 and 28 with its partner-agencies and the concerned LGUs “to discuss the guidelines, process flow” and their roles and responsibilities in the delivery of the financial assistance. The partner-agencies include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Region X (DILG).
The provision of “special” financial assistance was made possible after the DSWD, along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of National Defense (DND), signed on July 25 the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2, Series of 2021 or the implementing guidelines for the aid distribution to LGUs under ECQ.
The DSWD likewise assured continued provision of Family Food Packs (FFPs) for families and individuals living in areas under ECQ.
“As of August 3, FO VI has distributed over 54,000 FFPs for the whole Iloilo province while FO X has delivered more than 29,344 FFPs and 10,000 FFPs to Gingoog City and Cagayan de Oro City, respectively,” it said.