Cash aid distribution in Metro Manila, other high-density areas extended

MANILA, Philippines — An extension for the distribution of cash subsidy in Metro Manila and other areas with high population has been approved, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said a seven-day extension is granted in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Cebu City, and Davao City. Local government units (LGUs) other than those mentioned are given a four-day extension, he added.

“Meron staying (We have an) extension pero (but for) seven days lang (only),” Año said in an online press conference.

“We’re thinking of granting an extension to these LGUs particularly, the National Capital Region, the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Cebu City, and Davao City. We’ll be providing them seven days extension and for other LGUs na may problema (that have a problem), four days extension,” Año noted.

He also said that local governments had valid reasons why they were not able to distribute the cash subsidy on time.

“Pinagaralan namin ni [Department of Social Welfare and Development] Secretary Roly Bautista ‘yung situation ng Metro Manila at iba pang mga lugar na may high-density population ng mga urban poor families at nakita namin na valid naman ‘yung kanilang mga reasons,” Año said.

(Secretary Roly Bautista and I studied the situation of Metro Manila and other places with a high-density population of urban poor families, and we saw that they had valid reasons.)

“Kaya naman nilang i-distribute talaga ‘yan sa tamang oras pero mava-violate ‘yung physical and social distancing so balewala din, na-defeat din natin ‘yung purpose na huwag mag-spread ‘yung virus,” he added.

(They could distribute the cash aid on time, but physical and social distancing would be violated, and that defeats the purpose of preventing the spread of the virus.)

All Metro Manila mayors asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development to extend the deadline for the distribution of cash under the social amelioration program.

LGUs were earlier given until Thursday, April 30, to complete the first tranche of the cash assistance to its target beneficiaries.

The government has set aside around P200 billion for the two-month cash subsidies for 18 million low-income households to help them cope with the effects of the strict quarantine measures in place.

The beneficiaries receive subsidies that range from P5,000 to P8,000 per household, depending on the minimum wage rates in their respective regions.

KGA