By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on May 17 that distribution of ECQ aid or ayuda had reached 91% or P21.06 billion last May 15, the deadline set by the national government.
In a press release, DILG said 37 local government units (LGUs) managed to reach a 100% completion rate in the distribution of aid.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the LGUs managed to distribute ayuda to millions of beneficiaries, especially low-income earners.
Año said the 91% distribution rate is a testament to the LGUs’ commitment to extend the most help they can give to their constituents.
“Alam ninyo po, isang malaking hamon talaga itong pamamahagi ng ayuda sa panahon ng pandemya, at nakakatuwa na we saw the commitment of the LGUs. And now, billions of pesos of financial assistance have reached our kababayans. The 91% or P21.06 billion ayuda distributed to qualified beneficiaries is a victory for the LGUs and the national government,” Año said.
He explained that the remaining 9% represents the unclaimed ayuda.
With respect to the unclaimed ayuda, Año said the DILG has granted the LGUs with unclaimed funds the authority to prepare a new payroll and distribute these to other affected individuals in their respective communities within 10 days.
“Despite diligent efforts by the LGUs, some of the beneficiaries did not claim their ayuda because they have moved to the provinces or are no longer residing in their LGUs. Many of them were also delisted because they were found to be duplicates in the Social Amelioration Program list. The LGUs have started to prepare a new payroll in order to distribute these unclaimed funds,” he said.
According to the press release, on May 15, Bulacan tallied the highest completion rate of 96.85% corresponding to P2.87-billion worth of financial assistance.
The LGUs that received the financial assistance are: Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Calumpit, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto, Norzagaray, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, San Miguel, and, San Rafael.
Meanwhile, Laguna recorded a completion rate of 96.50% or a total of P2.62-billion worth of ayuda distributed.
The 19 LGUs from Laguna are: City of Biñan, City of Cabuyao, City of San Pedro, City of Santa Rosa, Alaminos, Calauan, Famy, Kalayaan, Lumbac, Mabitac, Magdalena, Nagcarlan, Paete, Pagsanjan, Pakil, Pila, Rizal, City of Santa Cruz, and Siniloan.
Rizal follows Laguna with 93.34% distributed, NCR with 90.99%, and Cavite with 86.04%.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya said Metro Manila LGUs have tallied a 90.99% completion rate amounting to P10.17-billion worth of ayuda.
“We commend the Metro Manila LGUs for stepping up and committing their resources for the effective distribution of ayuda,” he said. -jlo
