DILG says middle class will also get govt aid during Luzon-wide quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Although priority is given to poor households, middle-class Filipinos will also get assistance from the government during the duration of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured on Saturday.

In a Laging Handa press briefing, DILG spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said government assistance will take the form of a 30-day grace period for various payments such as for house rental and for credit cards.

“Yung tulong sa ibang formal sector or middle class for example may 30 days grace period sa credit card hindi muna kokolektahin,” Malaya said.

(Those in the formal sector or middle class for example will have 30 days grace period in their credit card bills, these will not be collected for the meantime.)

“May 30 days grace period sa renta sa bahay, ibig sabihin di muna kayo babayaran ng renta,” he added.

(There is a 30-day grace period for rental fees which means they will not pay rent during the quarantine period.)

Malaya, however, stressed that food packages from the various local government units are intended for households of lower economic class or the “poorest of the poor.”

“‘Yung food packs yung poorest of the poor yun yung prioridad natin,” the DILG official said.

(The food packs distribution is only for the poorest of the poor)

/MUF