THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has requested a P278-million supplemental budget to cover all recipients of the financial assistance that the government is giving to households affected by the imposition of a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, in his report to President Duterte on Monday night, said the government needs a total of P11.172 billion to provide cash aid to more than 11 million individuals, which is based on the list submitted by local government units (LGUs) on the actual number of recipients of the “ayuda” distributed during the lockdown imposed in April in the NCR Plus (Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already released P10.89 billion for the one-time P1,000 cash aid per individual, or a maximum of P4,000 per family.
“We have filed for a supplemental budget amounting to P278 million to ensure that all those affected in Metro Manila will receive a cash aid,” Año said.
Año assured all residents of Metro Manila that the distribution of the financial assistance, which is set to rollout today (Wednesday), will be orderly with the help of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered policemen to ensure that health protocols are strictly observed during the distribution of the financial aid.
Eleazar said policemen will be deployed to different distribution points not only to ensure peace and order, but to also make sure that there is no violation of minimum public health standards.
“We will just provide the necessary assistance to the local government officials who will be distributing the assistance. We will make sure that everyone is safe and protected,” said Eleazar, referring to the police force.
“At the same time, we want to ensure that those who are receiving the assistance will not violate the minimum public health standards,” he added,
Minimum public health standards includes wearing of face mask and face shield, and observance of physical distancing. Distribution of previous government financial assistance were marred by crowding.
Eleazar said he has directed the chiefs of police in NCR to coordinate with their respective LGUs “so that we can prevent occurrence of violations of minimum public health standards.”
Budget undersecretary and spokesman Rolly Toledo said the cash aid for NCR was sourced from savings from the 2020 Continuing Appropriations.
Toledo, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said DBM has recommended a P700 million budget for the cash aid from Bataan and a P2.715 billion for the cash aid in Laguna, which are both under the ECQ until August 15.
He said the proposed budget is awaiting approval from the Office of the President.
Toledo, meanwhile, said DBM is still looking for possible sources of funds for the cash assistance to be provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for workers affected by the lockdown.
He said DBM initially recommended that the fund be sourced from the remaining budget of DOLE.
Toledo said the DBM is targeting to submit the proposed P5.024-trillion budget for 2022 to Congress on August 23, in compliance with the constitutional requirement for the President to submit the budget proposal within 30 days from the opening of every regular session.
The 18th Congress opened its third regular session last July 26.
He said DBM is finalizing the new national spending plan and preparing related budgetary documents.
The proposed 2022 budget include the allocation for the government’s COVID-19 response efforts, the budgetary support for the Build, Build, Build Program, as well as the funding for the operations of government and delivery of basic services.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday said he has yet to receive official word from Malacañang on President Duterte’s order to the DILG and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to strip a Metro mayor of the authority to distribute the cash aid to households affected by the lockdown.
In his address Monday night, Duterte ordered the DILG and the DSWD to take over the distribution of the cash assistance in an unmentioned LGU in Metrp Manila, as he complained about the alleged failure of the local executive to efficiently come up guidelines to ensure that health protocols are observed during the aid distribution.
“Wala pa naman (None, so far),” Moreno said when asked if the city government of Manila has received a notice from the DILG. — With Ashzel Hachero, Victor Reyes and Noel Talacay
