DILG sees cash aid distribution to poor families 70% done this weekend

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said the distribution of cash aid among millions of households deemed most vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic might be 70 percent complete this weekend.

During the government’s online “Laging Handa” press briefing, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya disclosed that 61 percent of the 18 million families covered by the social amelioration program already received the cash assistance as of Friday night.

“I would think na baka umabot na po tayo ng (maybe we will reach) 70 percent by tomorrow [Sunday],” the DILG spokesperson said.

“Mukha pong gumaganda na and distribution ng ating mga local government units nationwide,” he added.

(It looks like the distribution of our local government units nationwide is getting better.)

Under Republic Act 11469 or “The Bayanihan to Heal As One Act”, the government shall grant a financial subsidy – ranging from P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the prevailing minimum wage in the region – to 18 million low-income families to help them cope with the effects of lockdown imposed to control the transmission of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes the severe respiratory illness COVID-19.

KGA