Over 94% of ECQ ayuda distributed to NCR beneficiaries — DILG

Around 94.73% of the cash aid under the enhanced community quarantine has been distributed to beneficiaries in Metro Manila, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Wednesday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the 10,663,537 recipients have claimed their social assistance as of Tuesday.

“As of yesterday, 94.73% na po ang ating naipamigay na ayuda sa ating mga kababayan (94.73% of the funds have already been distributed to our countrymen),” he said.

The local government units in the National Capital Region that already completed their distribution of cash aid are Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Pasig City, Manila, and Quezon City, Malaya said.

According to him, many beneficiaries have yet to claim their cash aid. Due to this, he said LGUs can give social assistance to additional beneficiaries.

Residents who appealed to grievance committees to be included in the list of beneficiaries will be prioritized, he added. However, he noted that LGUs will still have to check their qualifications.

Citing Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Malaya pointed out that the department does not prefer to return the funds to the national treasury but use them to assist Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Metro Manila was placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20, in a bid to slow down the transmission of the Delta coronavirus variant in the country. From August 21 to September 7, Metro Manila will be under MECQ.

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

The cash aid provides P1,000 per individual or up to P4,000 maximum per household. — RSJ, GMA News