Metro Manila mayors are already preparing for the distribution of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) financial assistance which they have agreed to start on Wednesday.
According to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, local chief executives of the National Capital Region (NCR) decided to begin the payout of the cash aid on the same day to make the schedule uniform in all cities.
"Napagkasunudan din ng mga mayors, para di rin macompare ang bawat city kasi ayaw naman natin isipin bakit dito nagsimula na, sa iba hindi (Metro mayors agreed that to avoid the question of why in other cities the distribution have already started and in some it has not), we tend to be united with regards to this thing na Wednesday is the best time to start," Belmonte said in an ANC interview.
"Kasi lahat handa na by Wednesday (Because all cities are already ready by Wednesday)," she added.
Among preparations that Metro mayors need to ensure before the distribution include forming the grievance and monitoring committees, meeting with their respective city's barangay heads, and disseminating information or announcing the names of those who are qualified to receive the cash aid.
Qualified individuals will get P1,000 each and a maximum of P4,000 per family.
Belmonte said the national government will only give the cash aid to qualified residents, unlike before when mayors could extend assistance in kind.
"Hindi lang madali ito dahil kailangan ayusin 'yung listahan ng tao (This is not easy because we need to fix the list of beneficiaries)," she said, although she clarified that Quezon City is already ready to deploy the P2.48 billion fund it received from the national government.