Only 25% of the cash aid for those affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has not yet been given to Metro Manila residents, Malacañang, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said today.
It will be recalled that the national government will provide P1,000 assistance per affected resident, or up to P4,000 per family, to assist in the re-closure of jobs and establishments due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.
“I’m happy to announce that according to the DILG, naipamigay na po ang 75% ng lahat ng mga pondong na-download na po sa national government sa Metro Manila,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Monday.
“Ito po’y nabenepisyuhan na ang 8.4 million beneficiaries.”
“May possibility naman po sa mga LGUs na hindi pa natatapos ng kanilang proseso na mabigyan ng karagdagang panahon,” Roque added.
The government had earlier said that a 15-day extension could be given to cities that could not immediately complete aid distribution on time. They can also request an extension if the distribution is difficult due to the threat of COVID-19.
75% of ECQ aid in NCR distributed
Although Metro Manila has shifted to the Modified Enhanced Community (MECQ), Interior spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured that aid distribution will continue even after the ECQ is over.
Meanwhile, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) is now calling on the House and Senate to speed up the legislature’s bills calling for additional assistance amid the pandemic’s impact on the economy. These include:
- P10,000 Ayuda Bill
- 100 Daily Wage Subsidy Bill
- Paid Pandemic Leave Bill
“The people are in dire need of support during these times. Malaki pa rin ang banta ng Covid-19. Limitado ang pagkilos natin dahil sa lockdown. Mahirap maghanap ng trabaho. Kaliwa’t kanan, namamamatay ang ating mga kababayan — kung hindi dahil sa Covid-19, dahil sa hirap at kagutuman,” said Jerome Adonis, secretary-general of KMU.
“Hindi dumadating, at kung dumating man, lubhang kulang ang suportang nakukuha natin mula sa gubyerno. Kung may urgent tayong dapat isalang ngayon sa mga komite at sa plenaryo, ito dapat ang mga batas na nagbibigay ng pinakamalaking benepisyo para sa mahihirap,” it added.
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