Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) — The Department of Interior and Local Government said on Monday that 91% of the government’s total cash assistance has been given to beneficiaries in the National Capital Region Plus as of May 15, the deadline set by the national government.
“The 91 percent or ₱21.06 billion ayuda [cash aid] distributed to qualified beneficiaries is a victory for the LGUs (local government units) and the national government,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, noting this shows the commitment of local governments in assisting their constituents.
About ₱23 billion has been allocated for the financial aid to households affected by the two-week enhanced community quarantine in NCR Plus — composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal — beginning March 29.
The agency reported 37 local governments in the area achieved a 100% completion rate in distributing financial assistance to low-income households affected by stricter lockdown measures earlier.
Bulacan logged the highest completion rate among all provinces within NCR Plus at 96.85%. Twelve LGUs in the province have finished handing out financial assistance to qualified residents.
Meanwhile, Laguna has the highest number of LGUs (17) that have fully given out cash aid, with the entire province registering a 96.5% completion rate.
Rizal and Metro Manila had completion rates of 93.34% and 90.88% respectively, while Cavite had the lowest figure among the five areas at 86.04%.
Año noted that the remaining 9% in the NCR Plus’s overall financial assistance “represents the unclaimed ayuda [cash aid].”
“Despite diligent efforts by the LGUs, 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 the Cabinet official, who also explained many were “delisted” as they were found to be duplicates in the government’s list for its cash assistance program.
LGUs have been granted the authority to distribute the unclaimed funds to other affected individuals in their localities within 10 days under a new payroll, added Año.
The Palace announced in late April the extension of the deadline for cash aid distribution in the region to mid-May as mayors struggled to comply with the original 15-day period initially given to them by the government.
