‘Ayuda’ for ECQ-hit Metro Manila residents will come from gov’t savings – Palace

FILE PHOTO: A resident of Baseco, Tondo, in Manila City on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, shows the financial assistance she received from the government, which extended the (ECQ) enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces from April 5-11, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region. Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Declared savings of government agencies will be tapped to fund cash aid for affected residents of Metro Manila, which will again be under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6-20, Malacañang said Tuesday.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the utilization of “unobligated, continuing appropriations, and savings” to extend financial help is provided under Administrative Order No. 41 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last May 21.

“Nakasaad dito na ang gagamitin natin na para sa ayuda ay manggagaling sa lahat ng unobligated, continuing appropriations, savings na idineklara ng mga departamento, mga ahensya, bureaus at mga opisina ng national government,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(The order states that funds needed for financial assistance will come from all unobligated, continuing appropriations, and savings declared by departments, agencies, bureaus, and offices of the national government.)

According to Roque, the government has set aside a total of P13.1 billion, which includes contingency funds, to provide money for financial aid to an estimated 10.7 million Metro Manila residents who would be affected by the reimposition of ECQ.

Should the government need more money for any additional cash assistance, Roque added, these would be sourced from the “windfall” collected by the Bureau of Treasury.

Roque on July 29 said residents who stand to be affected by the looming ECQ will receive P1,000 per person or a maximum of P4,000 per family.

On August 2, he assured the cash aid for ECQ-stricken Metro Manila residents will be given but also admitted that the government is unsure where the funds for the program will be sourced.

Duterte earlier approved the allocation of over P10 billion to fund aid to 80% of Metro Manila residents.

KGA