The cash aid for qualified beneficiaries in the National Capital Region (NCR) placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20 will be released mid-next week, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said on Saturday, August 7.
In an interview over GMA’s Dobol B TV, Densing confirmed that P10.84-billion cash assistance (ayuda) for the intended NCR recipients were already downloaded to the bank accounts of the local government units (LGUs).
But, Densing noted that the DILG, Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should first forge a joint memorandum circular JMC) that will be the basis for the ayuda distribution before the money can be released.
“Ang aming estimate po baka mid of next week ay mailabas na po (ayuda) kasi aayusin pa lahat ng papel, listahan, mga authorization. Baka mga mid-next week baka mag-start na po ang ating mga lokal na gobyerno (cash aid distribution) (Our estimate is that it will probably be released mid next week since the documentation, list, authorizations should all be prepared. Probably mid next week the local government will start),” Densing said.
Each qualified ayuda grantee in Metro Manila will receive P1,000 cash assistance with each family getting a maximum of P4,000 aid from the national government.
Densing noted that the monetary distribution process of the LGUs should be aligned with the template used during last April's ECQ with the DILG expecting that the localities will use the same list of beneficiaries.
“Ang aming assumption e dapat parehas (cash aid recipients) po dahil kung ang nabigyan ka noong nakaraang ayuda e dapat mabibigyan ka ngayong darating na ayuda” (Our assumption is that similar people who received the previous ayuda are the same individuals who wil be getting the aid), he added.
As for the province of Laguna which is also under ECQ until August 15, Densing said that the government is also preparing separate funds for its ayuda.
Densing pointed out that the national government “automatically” considers providing cash aid to the qualified beneficiaries in areas placed under ECQ.