DILG extends ayuda payout to September 10

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday gave local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila a final extension to complete the distribution of ayuda or cash aid to low-income families affected by the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ.

The DILG extended the ayuda payout to Sept. 10.

The department said 94 percent of the P11.2-billion ECQ assistance had been disbursed to beneficiaries as of the Aug. 31 deadline.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said this means a total of P10.6 billion in cash aid has been distributed to qualified beneficiaries.

DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said 10,663,537 beneficiaries have received financial aid in the National Capital Region (NCR), which was placed under ECQ from Aug. 4 to 20.

Out of the 16 cities and one municipality in the NCR, only Quezon City, Manila, Pasig, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas were able to meet the payout deadline, according to Malaya.

“Doon sa mga natitirang LGUs, five percent na lamang po ang hindi nila naipapamigay, kaya meron pa pong konting panahon ang ating mga kababayan na nasa listahan o kaya naman yung mga nasa grievance committee na tumungo sa mga LGUs para sa kanilang ayuda,” Malaya said.

Despite not meeting the deadline, Malaya said this was the fastest aid distribution among the four lockdown payouts in NCR since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year.

The DILG said it received reports that some of the listed beneficiaries missed their scheduled payouts.

According to Año, some distributing officers of the LGUs and beneficiaries were infected with COVID, which also delayed the payout.

Año said they did not want to pressure the LGUs to complete the aid distribution quickly, which could have led to overcrowding and violations of health protocols at payout sites.