Pateros to charge a service fee for ‘quicker’ cash aid distribution

The Pateros local government will be charging its beneficiaries a service fee for a "quicker" cash aid distribution amid the enhanced community quarantine.

According to a 24 Oras report on Saturday, the local government will be distributing its cash aid starting this Monday and will be charging a service fee ranging from P20 to P50 depending on the amount of cash aid the beneficiary will receive.

A service fee of P20 will be charged to those who will receive P1000, P30 for those receiving P2,000, P40 for those receiving P3,000, and P50 for those receiving P4,000.

The local government said that the fee will be given to its service provider so the distribution will be quicker and pay-out centers won't be crowded.

"Katulad din noong ginawa ng ibang LGU na meron kaming payment outfit na company na kinuha para sila ang mag-execute ng payment na ito para mas mabilis. Kasi kaya natin ginawa ito dahil marami rin tayong tao na positive ano at may mga close contact din. Kulang na kulang tayo sa tao," Pateros mayor Ike Ponce said.

(Like other LGUs, we got a payment outfit company to execute this payment so it'll be faster. We did this because we have a lot of people who tested positive and those who were close contacts. We lack people)

Although a service fee will be implemented, residents will still have to line up to get their aid.

The local government unit, however, said that this will be an easier process.

Barangay Martirez barangay captain Cesar Llagas said that they'll be doing house visits to give out the residents' reference numbers so when they go to the payout centers they'll just need to give out the number.

Some residents found the process easier, while others questioned why they were charged with fees when they were already receiving cash aid.

"Palagi 'yan nakita naman natin 'yung nangyayari sa ibang lugar na talagang nagkakagulo kaya sana maunawaan ng mga kababayan natin na kailangan natin gamitin itong payment outfit na ito para madali lang," Ponce said.

(We always see in other areas that they get disorganized so I hope our residents understand that we need to use this payment outfit to make it easier)

The Department of Interior and Local Government has yet to respond if they've approved of this additional service fee in giving out cash aid.

Meanwhile, in areas such as Sta. Rosa and Binan, Laguna and Pasig City, the local government units are distributing the residents' cash aid through house to house visits.

On Saturday, Pasig City already started giving out its cash aid, including in areas such as De La Paz and Manggahan which the Department of Social Welfare and Development has considered pockets of poverty.

Pateros was among the areas put under an enhanced community quarantine. The quarantine, imposed in the NCR Plus bubble, is set to expire on Sunday, April 11.

The strictest quarantine classification in the area began on March 29. It was supposed to end on April 4 but was extended until April 11. — Kaela Malig/DVM, GMA News