DILG: Distribution of aid in ‘NCR Plus’ to continue even during MECQ

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday clarified that aid distribution in the so-called NCR Plus will continue, dispelling rumors it would stop now that the region is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

“It’s not true that the ayuda for NCR Plus will stop because we have shifted to MECQ. That is fake news. Though more people are now back to work, the Ayuda is a commitment of government and will continue to be distributed despite the change in quarantine classification,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

As of April 12, a total of P1.757 billion in cash has been distributed to 1.7 million people affected by the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, according to Malaya.

“We understand the challenges in the distribution of this financial aid considering the need to reach the farthest sitios and barangays,” he said.

Malaya then called on all city and municipal mayors, as well as village officials, to “exhaust all means to ensure that the target beneficiaries will receive the ayuda the earliest possible time.”

“Ang ating mga Local Chief Executives ang nakakaalam kung anong mga bottlenecks and measures na dapat gawin para mas mapabilis ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga mamamayang nangangailangan,” he noted.

(The Local Chief Executives are the ones who know the bottlenecks and measures that they need to do to expedite the distribution of aid to those who are in need.)

Malaya said safeguards are already in place to ensure that graft and corruption are prevented in the distribution of cash assistance. He explained that the list of beneficiaries should be posted on an LGU’s social media pages this time and that a Grievance and Appeals Committee for each LGU should be established.

“In compliance with the directive of the President, we have organized a Joint Monitoring and Inspection Team (JMIT) per LGU headed by the DILG field officers, DSWD representative, Chief of Police, Provincial/City Prosecutor, and a CSO representative. The JMIT has been tasked to monitor the distribution on a daily basis,” he said.

On April 7, the national government started distributing financial assistance to people affected by the reimposition of ECQ in areas within the NCR Plus bubble.

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