METRO Manila mayors are targetting to start off this Wednesday the distribution of government’s cash aid for individuals affected by the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday.
Epimaco Densing III, undersecretary for operations, said local executives of the National Capital Region met on Saturday to discuss the simultaneous distribution of the financil assistance, which is set at P1,000 per person or a maximum of P4,000 per family.
Densing said the cash assistance has been downloaded to the local governments.
A total of P13.1 billion has been set aside by the government for the financial aid that will benefit an estimated 10.7 million residents of Metro Manila, which is under strict lockdown from August 6 until 20 as the government ramps up its efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially the local transmission of the Delta variant.
“Their target I think, if I’m not mistaken, is Wednesday onwards. They will also try if they can do it earlier,” Densing said in a radio interview.
Densing said barangays need to make public, either through their social media accounts or announce through house-to-house means, the list of the “ayuda” beneficiaries before making the actual distribution in compliance with the joint memorandum circular issued by the interior, social welfare and defense departments.
“Once they have complied with the requirements, they can start the distribution of the cash aid,” Densing said.
Local government units have 15 days to complete the distribution of the financial assistance, but the DILG has said that this can be extended depending on the request of LGUs.
Densing yesterday also said two more LGUs may be locked down due to increasing COVID-19 cases and the presence of the Delta variant in the areas.
Densing declined to name the two LGUs but said one of them is a city in Cavite. The province has seven cities — which are Cavite, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Trece Martires and Tagaytay. The province of Cavite is currently under modified ECQ.
Densing said the DILG and the Department of Health are closely monitoring the two LGUs for their possible inclusion in the list of areas under ECQ.
He added that the two have already been classified as “areas of concern” because “COVID-19 cases are rising, not to mention there are Delta variants, in these local government
units.”
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NRPO) yesterday reported that 5,264 violators were recorded on the first day of the implementation of the ECQ in Metro Manila last Friday.
NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said the violations included the improper and non-wearing of face masks (1,379 and 1,164 respectively) and shields (536 and 1,179,respectively), mass gathering, non-observance of social distancing and of RA 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
For violation on the prohibition again mass gathering, 10 violators were accosed, while 486 did not follow physical distancing, and 10 violated RA 11332.
On the other hand, 2,201 persons were arrested for violating the uniform 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew hours. — With Noel Talacay and Christian Oineza
