Makati residents to start receiving P5,000 cash aid on Friday -Mayor Binay

The P5,000 cash aid for Makati City residents aged 18 years old and above in light of the COVID-19 pandemic will be distributed electronically starting Friday, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said Wednesday.

Binay was referring to the P5,000 cash aid that the city will grant its residents aged 18 years old and above provided they are registered voters of the city or a holder of a Makatizen or Yellow Card.

“May qualification po, at alam na po namin kung sino ang qualified based sa database na hawak namin. Na-screen na po namin ito. Ang budget po natin ay P2.7 billion kasi alam na namin kung sino sila,” Binay said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Kaya po by Friday, puwede na po kami mag-download ng P5,000 doon muna sa 71,000 Makatizen card holders. That is worth P354 million,” Binay added.

Those qualified for the said cash assistance can confirm if they have already received the amount via the Makatizen app or the Makati City government portal.

“Wala pong problema kung na stranded po sa probinsiya pero taga Makati na qualified, kasi electronic fund transfer po ang gagawin,” Binay said.

“Wala rin pong maximum amount per family. Kung ang pamilya po ay hindi po nagpa-practice ng family planning at 10 ang anak aged 18 years old and above at qualified po, isang basketball team ang qualified,” she added,

The daughter of former Vice President Jejomar Binay said that such initiative will not affect the city’s development programs since the funding was sourced from unimplemented programs due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“Wala pong masasakripisyong program kasi ito po ay galing sa unimplemented programs dahil bawal na nga po ang mass gathering. Iyong founding anniversary celebration po ng Makati, sa June po iyon, hindi na po puwede iyon. Mayroon rin po kaming dapat iho-host na international conference, pero wala na po iyon,” Binay said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Luzon under enhanced community quarantine since March 16, a measure that banned mass transport and prohibited mass gathering that resulted in work stoppage in many industries.

Only the National Capital Region, Laguna and Cebu City will remain under enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to 31. This measure, however, was modified to allow opening of manufacturing and processing plants, but only with 50 percent workforce at maximum.

Makati City is part of NCR. --KBK, GMA News