The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to assist local government units (LGUs) in distributing cash assistance to qualified recipients in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), its chief said Saturday.
“Handa ang PNP na tumulong sa pagbibigay ng ayuda sa panahon ng ECQ. Bahagi ito ng guidance ng ating SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) Eduardo Año noon pa sa ating kapulisan na alalayan ang pagbibigay ng cash assistance sa panahon ng hard lockdown (The PNP is ready to help in the distribution of aid during the ECQ period. This is part of the guidance from our SILG Eduardo Año from the start – for our police officers to assist in giving cash assistance during a hard lockdown),” Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar tasked concerned police offices to coordinate with local government officials to secure the cash aid distribution and ensure that minimum health and safety protocols are observed.
“Our main objective is to avoid cash aid distribution activities turning into super spreader events and we can do that by ensuring that a system is in place and there is an orderly process,” he added.
On Friday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the distribution of cash aid in ECQ would begin next week after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases a total of PHP10.89 billion to cover the financial assistance for ECQ-affected individuals and households in Metro Manila.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said LGUs would have to wait for the local budget circular from the DBM and the guidelines on the distribution process set by the DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of National Defense.
Aside from this, LGUs would have to make the necessary preparations for the cash aid distribution, such as the preparation of lists of beneficiaries, deployment of disbursing officers, and ensuring sufficient cash for distribution to avoid delays.
Affected low-income individuals and families are expected to receive PHP1,000 per person and a maximum of PHP4,000 per household, to ensure that food and other non-food requirements are met despite the ECQ. (PNA)
