More than 312,000 families affected by imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao have received their “special” cash assistance from the government.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Saturday, Aug. 14, that as of Aug. 11, its Special Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) payouts have benefited 312,240 low-income families or 1,248,965 individuals in Iloilo province, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
“This is equivalent to over P1.2 billion funds disbursed for the cash assistance,” it said in a statement, even as it assured the public that the distribution of the cash aid in ECQ areas in Visayas and Mindanao continues.
The DSWD noted that more than P3.64 billion funds have been earmarked to cover 3,642,068 individuals who are suffering from the economic disruption due to the declaration of a localized ECQ in the three areas.
Through the AICS of the DSWD, the qualified recipients receive P1,000 cash assistance for each member with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family.
The provision of “special” financial assistance was made possible after the DSWD, 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 is committed to provide assistance to families to help them cope with the economic effects of the pandemic.”
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/26/special-ayuda-on-the-way-to-over-1-million-ecq-affected-families-individuals-in-visayas-mindanao-dswd/