COVID-19 AYUDA | DBM releases P10.9 billion for financial aid at the start of Metro Manila lockdown

August 6, 2021 , 06:08 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(August 6, 2021) – The budget department on Friday released some P10.89 billion for the financial assistance to poor households in Metro Manila affected by a two-week strict lockdown to stop the spread of the deadly Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The funds will be distributed to an estimated 10.9 million residents in the capital, about 80 percent of the population after the budget department downloaded the cash to the 17 cities and a town in Metro Manila.

“Upon receipt of the funds, the local government units (LGUs) shall facilitate and determine the most efficient and effective way for the provision of financial assistance to their constituents,” the department said in a statement. The funds for the cash aid were sourced from savings from the 2020 budget,

The cities and a town will distribute P1,000 each to people affected by the lockdown, which can be used for food and other non-food requirements.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development will monitor the distribution of cash whether in person or through banks and electronic transfers.

“Inaantabayanan namin ang SARO at NCA ng ayuda for Metro Manila. After that, inaantay na rin ang local budget circular. Immediately after that, maglalabas po ng guidelines ang DILG. Nabrief na rin po namin ang mayors para sa system ng distribution,” interior undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Some progressive groups have criticized the national government’s lack of urgency in rolling out the cash aid, with many poor families still awaiting the much-needed assistance when authorities have already started enforcing the restrictions.

“Nasan na ang ayuda? Nagsimula na ang ECQ pero wala pa din maski ang kakarampot na tulong na pinangako ng administrasyong Duterte,” House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna representative Carlos Zarate said Friday morning.

The left-wing party list also called out the cash aid to be inadequate, estimating that the P1,000 per individual aid can only last two to three days at most.

“The family living wage now is at least P1,058 per day and still to be given P4,000 aid would not even last for five days. So what would workers do, if they are not to go out and their workplaces are closed?” Zarate said.

At the House of Representatives, some lawmakers were pushing for the Bayanihan 3 bill, which would involve a P216 billion funding for two rounds of cash aid worth P2,000 to be given for each Filipino with no exceptions, Albay Congressman Joey Salceda said.

“Kung ilalagay mo sa ECQ lahat, lahat bibigyan mo,” Salceda, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means. (MM)

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