MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday floated a possible “cost-sharing” system between local government units (LGUs) and the national government to provide communities under granular lockdowns with food packs.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi po kasi kaya bigyan ng ayuda ng local government units. Under the system, yun pong pagkain ay sagot ng LGU para hindi sila makalabas dahil once lalabas po sila, baka makahawa sila,” Abalos said in a televised briefing when asked if Metro Manila LGUs are able to provide aid to residents affected by granular lockdowns.
(To be honest, the local government units cannot give financial aid. Under the system, the LGU only provides food since the residents cannot go out as they may infect other people.)
“Pero hindi po bale, nakipagugnayan na po ako sa ating NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority], kay Secretary Karl Chua and I’m asking him na kung tumagal ito, kung sakali mang tumagal, could there be a cost-sharing program kung maaari lang dahil there will come to a point na medyo mabigat na rin po ang gastusin, there should be a system in place,” he added.
(Nonetheless, I talked to NEDA Secretary Karl Chua and asked him that if the lockdowns persist, could there be a cost-sharing program if things come to a point where expenses become heavier, there should be a system in place.)
Metro Manila is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until August 31, with LGUs told to strictly impose granular lockdowns in villages, streets, buildings, and other areas where there are high COVID-19 cases to prevent transmission.
As of now, Abalos said Metro Manila’s LGUs can still manage to provide food packs, but expressed concern over their capacity to sustain it for the long run.
“You have to provide at least food packs, breakfast, lunch, dinner. And the way we see things there are a lot of granular lockdowns over the metro. Sa ngayon, okay pa siya kasi now, it’s really on the LGUs pero kung tumagal ito, sa nakikita ko baka umaray na rin ang LGU,” Abalos told INQUIRER.net.
(You have to at least provide food packs, breakfast, lunch, dinner. And the way we see things there are a lot of granular lockdowns over the metro. As of now, it’s okay, it’s really on the LGUs but if this is prolonged, LGUs might bear the brunt.)
“So what is better is we have the foresight to what might happen and to at least have a reserve option. Baka pwedeng makishare na ang national kahit sa pagkain man lang,” he went on.
(What is better is we have the foresight to what might happen and to at least have a reserve option. Maybe the national government could at least for the provision of food.)
While the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provides food packs, Abalos said it’s hard when there’s a lack of a system in the distribution.
“Right now, DSWD is already giving out food packs. Pero mahirap yung system bigla na lang magbibigay kung saan niya gustong ibigay. There must be a system in place as early as now,” he said.
(Right now, the DSWD is already giving out food packs. But the system where they give where they want to give is tough. There must be a system in place as early as now.)
Abalos said he was told by NEDA’s Chua and the Department of Budget and Management’s officer-in-charge Tina Rose Marie Canda that they will study his proposal.