Poor households in the provinces of Laguna and Bataan, which are currently placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), are set to receive “ayuda” or cash aid from the national government’s subsidy program, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has proposed giving PHP2.715 billion cash aid for low-income families in Laguna.

He noted that the DBM and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are currently computing the budget that will be allocated for families in Bataan.

Each qualified resident in Laguna and Bataan may receive cash assistance of PHP1,000 each or up to a maximum PHP4,000 per family.

“Ganun din po ang magiging arrangements natin, PHP1,000 per person, and maximum of PHP4,000 per household at sapat naman po ang ating savings and dividends para bayaran po itong ayuda sa Laguna at Bataan kasama na po yung sa Metro Manila, sa Cagayan de Oro City, sa Iloilo City (The arrangements are the same, PHP1,000 per person and maximum of PHP4,000 per household and we have enough savings and dividends to pay for cash aid in Laguna and Bataan as well as those in Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro City, and Iloilo City),” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Cash aid distribution in Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City, also under ECQ, kicked off last week.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, in the same briefing, said the 15-day distribution of cash aid in Metro Manila, which will start on Wednesday, may be extended to avoid overcrowding.

“Pumayag naman po si [DILG] Secretary Eduardo Año at si [Department of Social Welfare and Development] Secretary Rolly Bautista ng extension upon the request of the local government unit kung ang dahilan ay dahil sa challenges of distributing during the time of pandemiya (Secretary Eduardo Año and Secretary Rolly Bautista have agreed to extend the distribution of cash aid upon the request of the local government unit if their reason is due to the challenges of distributing during the time of the pandemic),” Malaya said.

The DBM earlier released a total of PHP10.894 billion financial assistance for low-income households in Metro Manila, which will be sourced from savings and dividends paid to the Bureau of Treasury by government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

Meanwhile, Roque said he believes that there has not been an “extraordinary delay” in the distribution of cash aid in areas under ECQ.

He also appealed to LGUs to distribute the cash aid “at the soonest time possible.”

Laguna, Iloilo City, and Cagayan de Oro will be under ECQ until Aug. 15, Metro Manila will be under ECQ until Aug. 20; Bataan will be under ECQ until Aug. 22

Under the ECQ status, only essential establishments and industries such as hospitals, groceries, courier and delivery services among others, will be allowed to fully operate while the movement of the general public will be limited.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared ECQ in the five areas to prevent the spread of Covid-19 cases amid the presence of the highly transmissible Delta Covid-19 variant. (PNA)