DILG PR
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) hailed the City of Paranaque and the City of Makati for utilizing digital disbursement in the distribution of their local cash assistance to their constituents during the global pandemic.
DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said that they are glad that the 2 LGUs used technology-based platforms because it does away with the long-lines and maintains physical distancing and other health protocols among the beneficiaries.
The Paranaque City Government recently launched the Paraña-cash which is a cash assistance program of the Parañaque local government for “left-out households” or those who did not receive any form of financial aid from the national government under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), expanded 4Ps, and COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program of the Department of Labor and Employment.
The other month, the City of Makati launched its cash aid program to all Makatizens or Makati residents through GCash.
The first batch of the Paraña-cash UnionBank EON cardholders was able to receive the P5,000 cash aid each during the launching of the pay-out program led by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez on Wednesday at San Agustin Gym, Moonwalk, Paranaque City.
Malaya said that this is the response of the City Government of Parañaque to DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año’s call to go digital and to ensure that all forms of financial assistance given by the government should be done electronically.
“Kasi nakita naman natin iyong problema noong nakaraan na grabe ang pila at kumpol-kumpol ang mga tao. Isa ang Parañaque sa mga nangungunang lungsod sa ating bansa na gumamit ng 100% digital disbursement,” he said.
He also commends the Parañaque City Government for initiating bank-on-wheels (BOW) in partnership with the UnionBank, which is an air-conditioned Automated Teller Machine (ATM) kiosk inside a mobile van where cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, funds transfer, and bills payment can be done.
All transactions in the BOW are zero-contact to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 during the pay-out of the cash assistance.
“Imbes na magpunta sila sa ATM, dinala nila iyong ATM dito [bank-on-wheels] sa barangay. So convenience sa tao pinalapit na iyong ATM, gamit-gamit pa iyong EON Card. Tapos ang maganda pa rito, anytime kung gusto mo, puwede kang pumunta sa ATM. Kung nakita mo ngayon na mahaba ang pila, bukas ka na lang pumunta,” said Malaya.
