Retired national police chief and senatorial candidate Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar urged local government units (LGUs) to pitch in for the financial assistance (ayuda) to vulnerable sectors of the society in their respective areas in order to further increase the P500 monthly "ayuda" from the national government.
But he said the call is only for LGUs which have the capability to allocate funds to assist their respective constituents who were severely affected by the series of oil big-time oil price hikes.
From P200, President Duterte increased the monthly "ayuda" to P500 as he recognized that the first recommended financial assistance is too little.
"I thank the President for heeding the call of the people to increase the monthly financial assistance. This is but proof that the poor are really close to the heart of the President," said Eleazar.
“And now that the President has responded to the call of the people, I am also urging the local government units to pitch in so that their constituents who would receive this financial assistance would have more amid the increase in the prices of the basic goods,” he added.
Eleazar said the prices of food items in the grocery and public market have already increased and there was already an announcement made that the price of rice per kilo will also increase in the coming days.
"With the increase in the prices of rice and other basic commodities, the people really need all the assistance from the government and this includes our LGUs," said Eleazar.
He said that LGUs, for instance, could extend assistance to their respective constituents in the form of rice distribution or basic food packs.