Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development released emergency funds to nine local government units in Metro Manila to provide financial aid to qualified low income Filipino families amid the COVID-19 pandemic , the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said on Wednesday.
In a televised briefing, task force spokesman Karlo Nograles said the following cities have already received their funds:
Manila — ₱1.48 billion
Parañaque — ₱621.39 million
Caloocan — ₱1.72 billion
Marikina — ₱449.88 million
Pasig — ₱ 750.93 million
Quezon City — ₱3.02 billion
Mandaluyong — ₱368. 37 million
Muntinlupa — ₱430.68 million
Taguig — ₱739.97 million
For his part, Nograles said he had asked the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines to open its branches in Metro Manila on Saturdays so that the cash aid could be distributed to target beneficiaries even on weekends.
The released funds are part of the government’s P200-billion social amelioration program, meant to mitigate the economic impact of the health crisis on low income households. One of its measures is the granting of up to P8,000 as cash subsidy to each affected family.
139,000 workers in private sector given aid
Meanwhile, Nograles also the Department of Labor and Employment has extended its one-time financial assistance to some 139,000 workers in private establishments that have adopted flexible working arrangements or have closed temporarily due to the enhanced community quarantine.
To avail of the subsidy, affected companies must submit a situation report regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the business, as well as proof of salary of their employees. The DOLE earlier required companies to submit their payroll to avail of the monetary assistance
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said field offices outside the capital region have also started turning over emergency subsidies to their LGUs, targeting to complete the task before this weekend.
