P1B cash aid sought for poor QC families left out of nat’l ayuda program

A councilor in Quezon City is proposing a P1-billion funds for cash aid for poor families not included in the national government’s social amelioration program (SAP) during the hard lockdown in Metro Manila.

In a statement, District 2 Councilor Winnie Castelo said Malacañang has released P2.4 billion to the city as SAP aid for 836,674 qualified beneficiaries. But some poor residents are not listed as beneficiaries.

“It was reported that there are other Quezon City residents whose names are not on the beneficiary master list but who are considered indigents and low-income earners and are also affected by the two-week lockdown or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ),” he said.

He added that there are residents who lost their jobs, employees working for only three to four days a week and whose earnings are not sufficient for their households.

“Those not in the list, and the jobless, and underemployed need ayuda or financial assistance. It is the latter groups the proposed ordinance intends to help,” Castelo said.

The councilor suggested the funds could be sourced from savings, incoming revenue collections, and other available appropriations in the city’s 2021 budget.

He recalled that the city appropriated P1.2 billion as additional funds for the social assistance during the last ECQ.

Under Proposed Ordinance PO21 - CC 426, beneficiaries will also receive P1,000 per individual or a maximum of P4,000 per family.

The National Capital Region has been 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