Deadline for cash aid distribution extended

MANILA, Philippines — Local governments have until May 15 to distribute the government’s financial assistance to 22.9 million low-income earners in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

Malacañang announced on Tuesday that the deadline had been moved to give local officials more time to hand out the cash aid, which is P1,000 for each beneficiary and no more than P4,000 for each family.

The amount was meant to help them cope with the two-week enhanced community quarantine implemented earlier this month.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the extension of the deadline was meant to ensure there would be no mass gatherings during the distribution of the cash assistance to prevent the transmission of COVID 19.

The extra time was also due to efforts to make the distribution of the cash more flexible, Roque said.

It could be done through house to house delivery or through automated delivery, he added.

The extension was also in response to appeals from mayors, he said.

Local governments were initially given 15 days from receipt of the funds to complete the distribution if the assistance would be given in cash, and 30 days if the assistance would be given in kind.

Roque earlier apologized for the slow pace of the distribution of the government aid, saying officials were making sure the process was safe and would not cause people to be infected.

As of Monday, the government had distributed P4 billion out of P22.9 billion.