ECQ AYUDA | Roque says LGUs to decide if aid will be in cash or in-kind, warns local officials

March 30, 2021 , 03:04 PM

(March 30, 2021) – With the announcement of another round of government assistance, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said local government units (LGUs) will decide if the mandated aid under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will be in cash or in-kind.

This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday approved the distribution of cash aid worth at least P1,000 for each of the 22.9 million individuals affected by the reimposition of ECQ.

“Iyong mga nadiskaril sa finances nila, na-ano kayo sa pera. Naghirap kayo kasi hindi makalabas. Magdasal lang kayo. We will give you the ayuda,” said Duterte in his weekly public address.

In the same briefing, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Wendel Avisado said they will directly release the emergency subsidy to LGUs, but noted that the aid will be in-kind.

“Wala tayong cash dito. We will leave it to the local government units dahil sila naman talaga ang first line of pinupuntahan ng mga tao na sila ang mag-allocate nito base doon sa approval ninyo na at least 1,000 pesos per person,” said Avisado.

Roque echoed the clarification while stating the importance of the quick arrival of assistance to poor families.

“It takes seconds para malipat ng DBM ang pera sa mga LGUs. ‘Yung pinirmahan ni Presidente is already silent on whether it is in cash or in-kind,” said Roque during a press briefing. “We leave it to the local government units kung ano ang pinakamabilis i-distribute para makarating sa mga kababayan.”

During last year’s ECQ, the government provided two batches of cash aid for people affected by the lockdowns. Around 16 million families reportedly received financial subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000.

Despite the lower aid for each individual, Roque explained more beneficiaries will be included in the ECQ subsidy compared to last year.

“Mas malawak ngayon kasi dati 70% lang binigyan natin, ngayon 80%. So, I suppose ‘yung LGUs, ‘yung mga nasa waiting list ay puwede nilang ma-activate ‘yan. This is now 80% of the residents of Metropolitan Manila plus the four provinces,” said Roque.

Roque also warned against local officials who will take advantage of the ECQ assistance. Last year, many barangay officials were reported pocketing the cash aid intended for residents.

“Lesson learned na kung kayo ay mga opisyales ng barangay, ipakukulong po kayo ni Presidente ‘pag pati ba naman ang ayuda ay pagsasamantalahan ninyo. Napakadami na pong nadisiplina diyan. Ang mensahe ng Presidente, ‘Huwag na huwag niyong gagalawin ang ayuda sa panahon ng lockdown at pandemya,'” stressed Roque.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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