Barangays preparing for distribution of NCR Plus aid —DILG exec

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño on Thursday said they are preparing in case barangay officials are tapped for the distribution of cash aid in NCR Plus amid the enhanced community quarantine.

"'Yung perang ayuda na-download na daw sa mga mayor at saka municipal saka city kaya ngayon nagpre-prepare na kami sa barangay kasi ang order sa amin within a week ipa-distribute 'yan sa Greater [Manila Area]," Diño told GMA News Online.

[The cash assistance has already been downloaded. We are already preparing at the barangay level because the assistance will be given to beneficiaries in a week's time.]

"Wala pa kong balita kung itu-turn over sa barangay 'yan o ang magpapamigay na naman, city or municipality... pag ganon ang nangyari tatagal na naman," he added.

[I have no information yet if these will be turned over to the barangay or it will be the city and municipality officials who will distribute the aid. If that's the case, distribution will take longer again.]

He said if the distribution of the social amelioration program will be handled by barangay officials, they can finish it within two days.

At present, Diño said they are checking the lists of the low-income individuals who may benefit from the latest SAP.

Budget Secretary Wendell Avisado earlier said a total of 22.9 million low-income individuals in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite would receive P1,000 in kind under the assistance program.

Each family will receive a maximum of P4,000. — BM, GMA News