The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of National Defense (DND), has issued the joint guidelines for the release and distribution of ‘ayuda’ (financial aid) in the National Capital Region (NCR) which was recently approved by the President.

In a news release on Saturday, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said with the issuance of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 3, s. 2021, NCR local government units (LGUs) may begin the distribution of the financial assistance middle of next week after making the necessary preparations.

JMC No. 3 outlines the implementing guidelines for the distribution of financial assistance of PHP1,000 per low-income individual with a maximum PHP4,000 per low-income family who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR, pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 130-E which took effect on August 6.

Both Local Budget Circular No. 138 issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and JMC No. 3 tasked the LGUs, under the supervision of the DILG, to release the financial assistance to their respective constituents.

He said the LGUs are given 15 calendar days to manage the distribution of the financial assistance from the start but said the period may be extended upon request of the LGU.

“The target beneficiaries of these Ayuda in NCR are the low-income individuals and families identified by the LGUs, who are physically residing, permanently or temporarily, or present in the city or municipality under ECQ, at the time of the ECQ declaration,” he said.

Año said the DSWD shall provide technical assistance to the LGUs while the DILG shall monitor or supervise the management and distribution of the financial assistance by the LGUs.

He said each LGU is mandated to create its own grievance and appeals committee to address complaints or grievances coming from constituents. The Local Chief Executive (LCE) shall determine the composition of the said committee. The LGU may also create similar committees at the barangay level, if necessary.

“I have also issued a directive to create per LGU a Joint Monitoring and Inspection Committee (JMIC) which shall be composed of the DILG/City Municipal Local Government Operations Officer as Chairperson, City/Municipal Social Welfare Officers, a representative from DSWD Field Office (C/MAT Representative), and the City Director/Chief of Police,” he said.

He said he has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide security assistance to the LGU personnel in charge of the distribution of financial assistance. The PNP shall provide security, sustain peace, and help maintain public order most especially in the actual distribution of the assistance. (PNA)