‘AYUDA’ LINE – Residents queue to receive their cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the allocation of P3.78 billion for the cash aid of residents in ECQ-hit Laguna, Bataan, and Metro Manila, an official of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday.
DBM Undersecretary Rolly Toledo said the President approved this morning the allocation, which includes P368 million additional aid for Metro Manila.
He said the budget department is expecting to release the funds on Friday as the agency is already preparing the necessary documents.
“Katatanggap lang namin ng approval ng Presidente ngayong umaga. Inaasahan namin na maire-release ang pondo bukas,” Toledo said in a televised public briefing.
(We received the President’s approval this morning. We expect to release the funds tomorrow.)
The DBM earlier proposed the allocation of P2.715 billion for Laguna and P700 million for Bataan.
The DBM earlier released P10.89 billion for cash aid for residents affected by enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) implementation, but Toledo said the agency proposed additional funds to cover all beneficiaries listed.
“‘Yung unang release sa NCR ay based sa estimated population but mas maganda na para walang magreklamo, minabuti na namin na ang basehan ay doon sa listahan ng nakaraang pagbibigay ng ayuda,” he said.
(The funds released to NCR was based on the estimated population but we thought it better that we base the allocation on the list used during the previous aid distribution.
Overall, Metro Manila will get P11.262 billion for the financial aid program.