More than P4.5 billion cash assistance (ayuda) has been so far distributed to qualified beneficiaries in Metro Manila, the The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday, August 18.
“Nasa 4,566,655 low-income individuals na po ang nakinabang sa ating ayuda at tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang ating pagbibigay ng ayuda ng ating mga LGUs (About 4,566,655 low-income individuals have benefitted in the ayuda and the ayuda distribution will continue in the LGUs)," DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said.
“Bukod pa rito, para may transparency, ay naipaskil na rin sa lahat ng local government units (LGUs) ang listahan ng kaniya-kaniyang mga benepisaryo sa mga barangay hall, website at official social media platforms para po sa kaalaman ng lahat (Aside from this, to have transparency the local government units had posted the list of their respective beneficiaries in the barangay hall, website and official social media platforms for the public’s information), ” he added.
The P4.5 billion amounts to 40.57 percent of the ayuda allocated for the NCR as “the current distribution is in accordance with the provisions of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 3, series of 2021, of the DILG, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of National Defense (DND).’’
Under the guidelines, the Metro Manila LGUs have 15 days from the start to complete the distribution of the ayuda to their constituents meaning they “have until August 25 to complete the distribution.’’
“We congratulate the NCR LGUs for an orderly and systematic distribution of Ayuda. We are doing distribution everyday. We have not received any report of any untoward incident and our PNP is there to ensure that all minimum health standards are met,” Año said.
The DILG chief added that all 17 LGUs in the NCR have established a fully operational Grievance and Appeals Committee within their respective localities as all of Metro Manila localities have also formed and convened a Joint Monitoring and Inspection Committee led by the DILG.
The cities of Caloocan, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Taguig, and Makati have so far garnered the highest percentage of financial assistance distributed.
“Caloocan is at 59.78 percent, San Juan 56.51 percent, Mandaluyong 55.22 percent, Taguig 53.41 percent and Makati City 51.48 percent,’’ the DILG said.
Año assured the public that the department, in close coordination with LGUs and the Philippine National Police (PNP), is ensuring the safety and security of all those involved during the ongoing distribution of ayuda, as well as the strict observance of minimum public health standards against the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
He cited the LGUs of Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Caloocan City, and Parañaque City for adopting various initiatives, such as the use of electronic and bank-assisted options, to ensure faster distribution of ayuda to recipients.
Starting this week, the provinces of Laguna and Bataan will also start distributing ayuda to their low-income constituents as the two provinces have also been placed under ECQ. (Chito A. Chavez)