60% of cash aid distributed in Metro Manila

Residents of Lupang Pangako in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City receive cash aid thru the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) at the Lupang Pangako Covered Court in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 11, as the local governments of Metro Manila simultaneously distributes aid to affected families of the two week lockdown or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).-INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

More than 60 percent of the P11.2-billion financial aid has been distributed to low-income families in Metro Manila a day after the two-week lockdown ended. Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said on Saturday the “ayuda” distribution breached 60 percent, or around P6.8 billion, benefiting more than 6.8 million individuals in Metro Manila. The 17 local governments have until Aug. 25 to complete the distribution. Several local governments, however, have asked for an extension of the deadline. Malaya said the DILG was open to an extension. —Dexter Cabalza