The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today said that 95% or P10.7-billion worth of “ayuda” or financial assistance for qualified low-income beneficiaries has been distributed by local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) as of August 31, 2021.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that 10,663,537 beneficiaries in Metro Manila received their cash aid to assist them during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). He lauded the LGUs for their quick distribution of the “ayuda” and expects that the remaining funds will be disbursed the soonest time.
“It is a victory amid this COVID-19 pandemic that Metro Manila LGUs were able to distribute the financial assistance for our kababayans at ngayon nga ay 95% o P10.7-billion na ang naipamahagi,” Año said.
He said that for the LGUs who have unclaimed funds, they may process pending claims at the LGU Grievance and Appeals Committee until September 10, 2021 which shall be the final day before the funds should be reverted back to the National Treasury.
“We commend them dahil sa kanilang mabilis na distribution ng ‘ayuda’ even in the middle of the Delta variant surge, habang patuloy na pinaiiral ang ating health protocols,” he added.
A total of P11.2-billion of cash assistance was allotted by the national government giving P1,000 per low-income individual with a maximum P4,000 per low-income family affected by ECQ in NCR from August 6-20, 2021.
Año said that six NCR cities namely Manila, Caloocan, Pasig, Malabon, Navotas, and Quezon City have completed their “ayuda” distributions accounting to 6,536,554 recipients and more than P6.5-billion in financial assistance.
“Binabati natin ang mga lungsod sa NCR na 100% na ang kanilang distribution rate dahil ibig sabihin lamang nito na nakarating na sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan nating kababayan ang tulong mula sa pamahalaan,” he said.
He said that most of the LGUs are close to finishing their “ayuda” dissemination with a distribution percentage ranging from 90-99%. The LGUs of San Juan City, Municipality of Pateros, Las Piñas City, Pasay City, and Mandaluyong City followed in closely with distribution percentages of 99.52%, 98.85%, 96.61%, 95.61%, and 93.90%, respectively.
Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay officials, and other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of National Defense (DND) for assisting in the distribution of ayuda “amid the obvious threat of the more transmissible Delta variant.”
“We thank all our partners in the distribution of ECQ financial assistance here in NCR lalo na sa PNP at mga taga-barangay na ating nakasama. Lubha pong napakalaking sakripisyo ang inyong ibinibigay pero kapalit naman po nito ay milyon-milyong mga kababayan natin ang ating natulungan ngayong pandemya,” Malaya said.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-95-or-P107-billion-ayuda-now-released-to-qualified-beneficiaries/NC-2021-1186