Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — The Landbank of the Philippines said it is backing plans to fast-track implementation of the national ID system to pave the way for a faster and more efficient way to distribute cash aid.
Landbank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo said Wednesday they support the program of the National Economic and Development Authority, adding “dapat talagang ipush natin yung ating national ID system kasi yun ho ang pinakamabilis na paraan para maidistribute ng gobyerno ang mga cash grants.”
[Translation: We should push for the national ID system because it is the fastest way for the government to distribute cash grants.]
Borromeo said she saw the difference when the Landbank was tapped to distribute aid amid the COVID-19 crisis.
She said they were able to give the money to 3.7 million DSWD beneficiaries under the conditional cash transfer program in just three days.
“Kaya ho naging mabilis ‘yun ay dahil mayroon nang cash card na ang CCT benefciaries bago pa nagkaroon ng COVID-19 crisis,” she said. CCT refers to the government’s conditional cash transfer program.
[Translation: The reason why it was so fast was because the CCT beneficiaries already had cash cards even before the COVID-19 crisis.]
Borromeo said it was more difficult to distribute aid to drivers who would receive aid from the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
“We had to dstribute the cash grants over the counters of Landbank dahil wala pa po silang bank accounts or cash card [they had no bank accounts or cash card],” she added.
NEDA said it is eyeing to register five million people covering five million families in the national ID system this year.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that the execution of the national ID system could have helped speed up the government’s aid distribution in light of the continuing lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.
