Caloocan completes cash aid distribution, P8.4B 'ayuda' distributed in NCR so far
By Chito Chavez
Caloocan City has completed the distribution of the cash assistance (ayuda) to its constituents that were severely affected by the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) , the first Local Government Unit (LGU) in Metro Manila to do so.
Overall, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said 75 percent of the cash aid distribution has been distributed so far in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Metro Manila was placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20 to slow down the transmission of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-190 Delta variant where each low-income individual was given P1,000 ayuda with a maximum amount of P4,000 for every family.
Laguna was also placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20 with Bataan being in the same strict restriction from August 8 to 22.
On August 23, the DILG assured that the cash aid distribution in Metro Manila, Laguna and Bataan will continue even with their shift to the less restricted modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
In a briefing with the President that lasted the following morning, Año noted having extended the NCR ayuda distribution deadline from August 25 to August 31 to give the local government units (LGUs) time to complete the distribution process and make adjustments for the wait-listed parties to get the financial assistance in lieu of the original claimants’ failure to get their share in the various distribution sites.
Out of the total allocation of P11,256,348,000, Año reported that P8,441,905,000 financial assistance had already been dispensed to 8,441,905 recipients so far.
The DILG chief added that so far P390,695,000 ayuda was distributed out of P2,714,966,000 cash aid allocation for a 14.39 percent distribution percentage accomplishment.
In Bataan, Año said P1,279,000 financial assistance were handed out to 1,279 qualified beneficiaries with the ayuda distribution being started on August 24 in some localities in the province.