The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) aims to begin the distribution of financial aid for individuals affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR Plus bubble (National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) on Tuesday (April 6).
Speaking at today’s Laging Handa briefing, DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said that the local government units (LGUs) have been informed of the individuals to be given priority to receive the financial assistance.
“Batay po doon sa inilabas na joint memorandum circular ng DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government], DSWD, at ng DND [Department of National Defense], mayroon pong guidelines na nakasaad doon kung paano nga natin matutulungan ‘yung mga LGUs sa pagtukoy ng mga benepisyaryo nitong financial assistance within the NCR Plus.”
[Based on the guidelines in the issued joint memorandum circular of the DILG, DSWD, and the DND, there are guidelines that state how to assist the LGUs in identifying the beneficiaries of the financial assistance within NCR Plus.]
Dumlao said the prioritized individuals are the beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) under the Bayanihan 1, additional beneficiaries under the Emergency Subsidy Program of the Bayanihan 2, SAP-waitlisted beneficiaries, and those belonging to vulnerable sectors.
The DSWD spokesperson also said the financial aid to be distributed will be worth ₱1,000 per individual, and that total aid given to each family must not exceed ₱4,000.
She added that it is up to the discretion of the LGUs whether to give the aid in cash or in kind. *
Report from Kenneth Paciente/NGS-jlo
