LOCAL government units (LGU) seeking to extend the 15-day distribution period for the P1,000 assistance in areas affected by the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) should submit the necessary applications to concerned government agencies.
On Thursday, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued the instruction after some LGUs asked for more time to complete the distribution of the benefit.
“So we told them to submit the application or request since the joint memorandum circular [for the aid distribution] was approved not only by DILG but also DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and SND and SND (Secretary of National Defense),” Interior Undersecretary Bernardo Florese said in an online news briefing.
The national government earlier allocated P23 billion to extend in-kind or cash assistance to people affected by the ECQ in the National Capital Region (NCR) plus, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.
Around 23 million people temporarily displaced during the ECQ are expected to benefit from the assistance.
As of Wednesday, DSWD reported that affected LGUs had distributed the P1,000-per-head worth of aid to only around 4 million beneficiaries.
Florece said they received a formal written request for an extension for the distribution period by 5 to 10 days from LGUs in Calabarzon and Central Luzon.
He said there is there is still no formal request from LGUs in NCR, although he said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has already inquired about the possible extension.
Among the reasons cited by the said LGUs were their limited number of personnel tasked to distribute the assistance due to quarantine protocols.
“We will grant their request if there is justifiable reason for the extension…we will have [to conduct an] evaluation if we will approve [their request] or not,” Florece said.
Image credits: Roy Domingo
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