By Mela Lesmoras
The Department of Budget and Management confirmed on Monday that it has already submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte the proposed government aid for Filipinos whose livelihood are now affected by the week-long enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna (NCR Plus).
In a virtual press briefing, DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado said more or less 22.9 million beneficiaries are expected to receive financial assistance anew.
“Awa ng Diyos po, mayroon naman pong pagkukunan tayo para sa Special Amelioration assistance na ibibigay natin sa mga naapektuhan nitong ating kasalukuyang pinapairal na ECQ (By God’s mercy, we have a source for the Special Amelioration assistance that will be handed out to affected people under the current ECQ being implemented),” Secretary Avisado shared.
“We are guided by the data given to us by both the DSWD (Department of Social Work and Development) and the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). And based on the latest population statistics from NEDA, there are an estimated 22.9 million beneficiaries which correspond to the 80% low-income population in NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna and these are the areas placed under ECQ so iyon ‘yung pinagbabasehan natin (so that is our basis),” he added.
In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that once approved by the President, the distribution of the financial aid may start next month.
He also mentioned that this issue may be discussed in the “Talk to the People” program of President Duterte tonight, along with other matters.
“Ito po narinig ko ha kay Secretary Dominguez ‘no but this is tentative, more or less mga kalagitnaan po ng Abril (This is what I heard from Secretary Dominguez but this is tentative, more or less mid-April),” the Palace official relayed.
“Inaasahan po natin na sa Talk to the People, masasapinal na iyong quarantine classification simula April 5 hanggang katapusan ng Abril at saka iyong issue po ng assistance ng gobyerno (We expect that in “Talk to the People”, the quaratine classification will be finalized from April 5 until the end of April as well as the issue on government assistance,” he added.
Earlier, Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher “Bong” Go, in an interview at the Laging Handa Public Briefing, also shared the possibility of the provision of assistance “in-kind” but this is still up to the President to decide.
