The local governments in Metro Manila have started distributing cash aid subsidies as the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is implemented again during the Holy Week. It is scheduled per district beginning on April 6, 2021, and will last for 15 days.

 

According to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, the supplemental aid could cover 80% of the low-income population in the whole NCR. The Government allocated 22.9 billion funds left-over from the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act for 11.2 million individuals in Metro Manila.

 

Domagoso explained that the local governments are given the freedom to choose whether the aid would be distributed in cash or in-kind. However, he encouraged LGU’s to dispense it as cash instead since there is already a monthly food pack that was given to every family.

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However, the party-list group Bayan Muna argued that the P1,000 cash aid is not enough to buy food during a two-week ECQ. 

 

"In the event that the supposed aid finally comes and one gets 1,000 pesos per person or even 4,000 pesos per family, this would not be enough for an average family of five for two weeks, as our Bayan Muna team who conducted the P1000 challenge at the Commonwealth Market can attest," a member of the Bayan Muna Party-list said. 

 

Despite their pleas, President Duterte has already approved the P1,000 to P4,000 cash-aid and has already been distributed to LGUs.