Cost sharing between the national government and local government units (LGUs) in providing food packs to communities under granular lockdowns in Metro Manila is now under discussion.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos bared Saturday, Aug. 28, that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed its approval for the cost-sharing scheme during a meeting Friday, Aug, 27.

"The concept of cost sharing between the national government and LGUs of food packs for isolation/quarantine and granular lockdown areas was also discussed during the meeting. The DILG manifested its approval and support for this concept, and would present the scheme the soonest," Abalos said.

The MMDA Chief earlier pronounced that LGUs are already short in budget in providing ayuda to communities placed under granular lockdowns, prompting them to seek help from the national government.

"Sa totoo lang ‘no, hindi po kasi kayang bigyan ng ayuda ng local government unit ‘no (To be honest, the LGU can no longer provide ayuda)," Abalos said during a televised briefing on Aug. 25.

He also said that they will coordinate with the National Economic Development Authority(NEDA) to come up with a cost-sharing system.

"Kung sakali mang tumagal, could there be a cost sharing program kung maaari lang, dahil siyempre there will come to a point na talagang medyo mabigat na rin po ang gastusin. There should be a system in place. Pero pag-uusapan po namin ito kung papaano po ang puwedeng mangyari (If the lockdowns will take longer, could there be a cost-sharing program because, of course, there will come a time that the spending will be too much to handle. There should be a system in place. But we will have to discuss this first)," he added.

Meanwhile, Abalos also expressed confidence that the national government would hit the 50 percent target of giving double dose shots of COVID vaccines by the end of August or early September.