Gov't to provide food supply, not cash aid, for areas under granular lockdown
No cash aid will be given to areas in Metro Manila that will be placed under granular lockdown, but Presidential spokesman Harry Roque clarified on Tuesday, September 14, that the government will provide food supplies.

The Palace official said providing food supply to the households will be a “shared responsibility” of the local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Ayon po dun sa (Based on the) shared responsibility na napagkasunduan ng mga (agreed upon by the) mayors at ng (and the) DSWD food, food supplies po ang pamimigay sa mga (will be given to) areas na (that are) subject to granular lockdown,” Roque shared during a virtual press briefing.
The spokesperson is currently in New York to seek support for his nomination to be a member of the International Law Commission (ILC).
For his part, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said that the LGU and DSWD will divide the two-week granular lockdown between themselves.
READ: DILG: Granular lockdown, alert level restriction totally different things
The mechanics, he explained, will be for the LGU to provide and distribute food packs for the first week. That will give the MMDA the time to “submit the papers” to the DSWD to know how many families will be given food packs for the second week of the lockdown.
Abalos reported that there will be about 2,000 to 3,000 families who will be under lockdown in Metro Manila during the pilot implementation of the government’s new quarantine classification.
From September 16 to 30, Metro Manila will follow the new alert level system. The Department of Health (DOH) will declare which areas will be under Alert Levels one to four while the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will be the one to declare Alert Level 5 or hard lockdown, the strictest among the alert levels.
READ: NCR under Alert Level 4 lockdown classification starting Sept. 16- Año
Roque also said the DSWD has a “regular program” to “assist individuals in crisis situation.”
He noted the areas under lockdown may still receive cash assistance from the DSWD for transportation and medical-related expenses.