To avoid the rush to get the aid, Pateros Mayor Ike Ponce announced that the aid will be distributed through Starpay. It is an online payment gateway and money can be obtained from remittance centers such as the USSC.
According to the mayor, he saw in other cities that the queue extends until dawn and fills often in the covered court, so the local government of Pateros decided that they will use the digital platform again. Starpay was also used last year to distribute the Social Amelioration Program.
But people’s help will be reduced because Starpay has a service fee. If you can get P4,000 in assistance for the family, the service fee is P50. If P3,000, the fee is P40, P30 for P2,000, and P20 if the aid is P1,000.
“Mas makabubuti naman ito kaysa naman tayo’y pumila ng matagal dahil manual ang ating ginagawa po. At wala rin po tayo sa kasalukuyan manpower sa ngayon para gumawa niyan, dahil sabi ko nga sa inyo, hanggang ngayon naka-lockdown pa rin ang ating Treasury Office at marami po sa ating mga manggagawa ang naka-closed contact rin sa mga nag positive, kaya talagang kokonti ang personnel,” the mayor of Pateros said.
Also read: Queue for ECQ aid in Cubao Elementary School reached EDSA
Pateros LGU distributes aid via online app
He said you just need to show your ID to get the help. The distribution of ECQ aid in Pateros will begin on Monday. But not at the same time so as not to be crowded. Claiming is different for each barangay.
Mayor Ponce, on the other hand, apologized because not everyone who got SAP last year is included in the ECQ assistance today. He said the budget given to them is small so they give priority to the poorest in the municipality. He said it is possible that they received SAP last year, but may not be given assistance now. Their staff on the list is still being validated.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Wendel Avisado, the funding for the social amelioration program taken from the remaining budget for the implementation of Bayanihan 2 is only P22.9 billion.