INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said nearly P2 billion of the 22.9 billion cash assistance earmarked for low-income individuals in the National Capital Region Plus affected by the March 29 to April 11 enhanced community quarantine were left unclaimed.
Año said the unclaimed funds will be re-allocated and distributed within the next 10 days to qualified beneficiaries who were not included in the original list of 22.9 million intended recipients of the cash aid.
“Despite diligent efforts by the LGUs (local government units), some of the beneficiaries did not claim their ‘ayuda’ because they have moved to the provinces or are no longer residing in their LGUs,” said Año.
“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,” added Año.
Año said the aid distribution was 91 percent complete, meaning P21.06 billion was distributed to 21.06 million of the intended 22.9 million beneficiaries in NCR and in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan as of May 15.
President Duterte approved the distribution of P22.9 billion in cash assistance amounting to P1,000 per person, or a maximum of P4,000 per family, as financial assistance to low-income individuals in the NCR Plus during the lockdown period.
The funds were downloaded to local government units on April 5. Local executives were initially given a 15-day deadline, or until April 20, to complete the distribution but the deadline was extended to May 15.
“The 91 percent or P21.06 billion ayuda distributed to qualified beneficiaries is a victory for the LGUs and the national government,” said Año.
Año said the distribution accomplishment rate in Metro Manila was at 90.99 percent, Bulacan at 96.85 percent, Laguna at 96.5 percent and Rizal at 93.34 percent.
