Thousands of Marikina residents appeal to be included in ECQ cash aid —Mayor Teodoro

Around 5,000 to 6,000 people in Marikina City have appealed to be included in the list of beneficiaries for cash assistance amid the enhanced community quarantine, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said on Thursday.

At the Palace briefing, Teodoro said the residents who made the request had lost their jobs or seen their working days reduced.

“Meron nag-appeal na around 5,000 to 6,000 individuals [Around 5,000 to 6,000 appealed] and we hope that we could also provide assistance,” he said.

If the funds from the national government will not suffice, Teodoro said, they will use local resources for the social assistance of the additional beneficiaries.

As of Wednesday, a total of 51,170 or 53.29 percent of Marikina’s target beneficiaries have already received their cash assistance, according to Teodoro.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said a total of P4.5 billion or 40.57% of the P11.2 billion cash aid allocated for Metro Manila has been distributed to beneficiaries.

Metro Manila was placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20 in light of the transmission of the Delta coronavirus variant in the country.

Around 11 million NCR residents will benefit from the cash assistance.

The social assistance will be P1,000 per individual or up to P4,000 maximum per household. — BM, GMA News