Quarantine restrictions have slowed down the distribution of government cash aid to intended recipients in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjacent provinces, which were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
During the public address of President Duterte on late Monday evening, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) disclosed only around 8 percent of the 22.9 million target beneficiaries were able to avail of the said assistance in NCR plus.
NCR plus, which includes Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan were placed under ECQ on March 29, 2021 in a bid to control the spike in daily Covid-19 cases.
“As of April 11, based on the data of the DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government], the actual beneficiaries paid are 1,757,281. The amount disbursed is P1,757,281. So that is 8 percent,” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said.
The government allocated P23 billion to provide in-kind or cash assistance, which is worth P1,000 per person, in NCR plus.
The measure aims to extend help to workers who were not able to go to work due to stricter quarantine restrictions.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said many local government units (LGU) faced difficulty in distributing the aid to their qualified constituents since they have to comply with social distancing and mass gathering restrictions.
LGUs were given 15 days by DILG to complete the distribution of the assistance, but MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos said they would be requesting a 30-day extension.
Bautista said they expect the pace of the distribution to pick up within the week.