The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday, Aug. 6, that it will keep an eye on the distribution of more than P10.89-billion worth of financial assistance to low-income individuals and households affected by the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR).
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they will closely coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in monitoring the implementation of the financial aid.
“Yes, DSWD will monitor the payout. There will be close coordination between the DSWD and the DILG just like when the government implemented the distribution of financial assistance during the NCR-plus ECQ,” she told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Friday that it has already released P10.894 billion to cover the financial aid of ECQ-affected families and individuals in Metro Manila.
Dumlao said the DSWD will not in any way be involved in the downloading of funds and in the identification of mode of payment for the eligible beneficiaries.
“Based on the memorandum from the ES (Executive Secretary), funds will be transferred directly to the LGUs,” she said.
“The LGU will determine the mode of payout.”
The DBM said the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will release the cash assistance to the LGUs, which are expected to determine the most efficient and effective way of delivering the cash aid to their constituents.
It said the financial assistance shall be used exclusively by the 17 beneficiary cities and municipalities for the provision of assistance to affected individuals equivalent to P1,000 per affected individuals, with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family, subject to the case supervision and monitoring of the DILG and the DSWD.