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Problematic LGUs in previous cash subsidy to be closely monitored in NCR Plus aid
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said it will monitor closely the local government units (LGUs) which had problems regarding the distribution of the previous Social Amelioration Program (SAP), in the delivery of aid in "NCR Plus".
"Pangkalahatan naman last year sa first tranche ng SAP, naiparating naman ang tulong sa ating mga kababayan. But there were, I would admit, some LGUs na nagkaroon tayo ng problema," DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in an interview on Unang Hirit.
[Generally in the first tranche of SAP, we were able to deliver the cash aid to our countrymen. However, I would admit, there were some LGUs where we had some problems.]
"So ang gagawin namin sa DILG is babantayan namin ang mga LGUng ito. Kumbaga gagawin namin itong mga areas of special concern — 'yung mga mahahaba ang pila, 'yung mga na-late. Kasi mayroon kaming listahan ng mga LGUs na 'yan, na actually 'yung iba niyan pinadalhan namin ng show cause order, bakit na-delay 'yung pamimigay nila ng Social Amelioration Program," he said.
[So what the DILG will do is monitor these LGUs. We will classify them as areas of special concern—those with long lines, who were late. We have a list of these LGUs. In fact, some of them were issued show cause order (for them to explain) why they had a delay in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program.]
"So isasantabi natin 'yang mga 'yan. 'Yun ang babantayan natin para sigurado tayo na hindi na maulit ang delay sa pagbibigay ng SAP sa kanilang mga constituents," Malaya said.
(So we will closely monitor these areas to ensure the delay in the distribution of aid to their constituents will not be repeated.)
"Alam namin kung saan LGUs nagkaroon ng corruption, alam namin kung saan LGUs nagkaroon ng delay. We will consider them as areas of special concern. 'Yung mga LGUs na yon, ima-manhandle natin so to speak para hindi na maulit ang nangyari. 'Yung vast majority naman ng LGUs na maayos ang pamimigay, they can operate, monitor na lang ng DILG," he added.
[We know which LGUs had corruption or delay. We will consider them as areas of special concern. Those LGUs will be manhandled, so to speak, so these won't be repeated. The vast majority of LGUs which were orderly in giving out (the social amelioration program) can operate. They will just be monitored by the DILG.]
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the assistance program
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In Duterte's weekly talk to the people, Budget Secretary Wendell Avisado said a total of 22.9 million low-income individuals would receive P1,000 in kind under the assistance program.
The National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal were placed under the stricter enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) anew following the spike in the number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Called NCR Plus, the area is under ECQ from March 29 until April 4.
Malaya said the DILG will have a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to iron out the details regarding the aid in kind for the NCR Plus under ECQ.
"Pinaplantsa pa natin ang mga detalye but I would agree with the President na mas maganda talaga na ipadaan sa mga local government units kasi sila naman talaga ang nakakaalam ng mga situwasyon ng kanilang mga constituents," the DILG official said.
[We will still iron out the details but I would agree with the President that it would be better to distribute the aid through the local government units since they are the ones who know the situation of their constituents.]
Malaya also said some LGUs have their own aid or subsidy, which may be rice or food packs or vegetables, and they have a more updated list of beneficiaries.
"Marami sa mga LGU sa Metro Manila ay naghahanda na para ipamigay ang sarili nilang ayuda from the LGU naman. In terms of listahan, mas malinis ang kanilang listahan kumpara sa ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan," he said.
[Many LGUs in Metro Manila are preparing to distribute their own subsidy. In terms of list (of beneficiaries), they have a more updated list compared to other government agencies.]
Malaya said the aid for NCR Plus areas will be given out on the first week of April. —KG, GMA News