Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo)
MANILA – More than one million families in Iloilo Province, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental who are affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) will each receive up to PHP4,000 cash assistance, following the issuance of the guidelines by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2 series of 2021 provides the guidelines for the distribution of financial assistance to the affected residents and families in the ECQ areas identified under IATF Resolution No. 127-E dated July 15, 2021, through the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) fund.
The joint directive was signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
"Hangad ni Pangulong Duterte at ng pamahalaan na maitawid ang mga pangangailangan at maibsan ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayang apektado ng ECQ sa Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro City at Gingoog City (President Duterte and the government want to provide for the needs of our countrymen affected by ECQ in Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City)," Año said in a media release Saturday.
Under the JMC, the financial assistance shall be released by the DSWD to cities and municipalities that are placed under ECQ to provide emergency relief assistance to affected families. Each of the beneficiary families shall receive P1,000 for each member, with a maximum amount of PHP4,000 per family.
"The financial assistance must be used exclusively by the concerned LGUs for the provision of such assistance and must in no way be used for any unauthorized program, project, or activity,” the DILG Secretary said.
The guidelines also state that the concerned LGUs shall release the assistance in cash to their constituents within 15 days from receipt of transferred funds.
"We leave it to the LGUs, however, to identify the type, manner, and process of distribution of the assistance which shall be stipulated in the memorandum of agreement that they will forge with DSWD in accordance with DSWD's Special AICS guidelines," Año said.
"LGUs are also required to submit a complete liquidation report within 60 days from the last day of distribution of the financial assistance and to refund unused/unclaimed funds," he added.
Año also directed LGUs to closely coordinate with the DSWD, DILG field offices, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or other government agencies on the necessary support that they need to ensure the smooth and efficient distribution of the cash aid.
The JMC states that the DSWD shall provide technical assistance and assist the LGUs in the distribution of financial assistance while the DILG shall monitor the management and distribution.
Meanwhile, the PNP shall provide security assistance to the LGU personnel in charge of the distribution, sustain peace, and maintain public order during the actual distribution. The AFP shall provide security support to the PNP in areas where augmentation is required by local authorities especially in conflict-affected areas or geographically isolated areas upon receipt of a written request from local authorities.
Target beneficiaries
Under the guidelines, the target beneficiaries are those who are adversely affected by the economic disruption brought about by the declaration of localized ECQ in the province, city, or municipality, including beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program under Bayanihan Law 1 and additional emergency subsidy beneficiaries under Bayanihan Law 2; individuals belonging to vulnerable groups, such as individuals living alone, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are also included, provided that they are not qualified separately if they are already identified or listed as a member of a family that is listed among the beneficiary-families.
Also among the target beneficiaries are individuals and families whose employment and livelihood have been affected by the ECQ including those who have been stranded by the ECQ.
"At the time of the ECQ, the beneficiaries must be physically residing, either permanently or temporarily, or who are still found in the province, city, or municipality under ECQ for them to qualify for the AICS cash assistance," Año said.
He urged the concerned city/municipal mayors to fast-track the identification, validation, and certification of eligible beneficiaries and to ensure that the list has undergone duplicate checking for efficient fund distribution.
The DILG Chief said the list of beneficiaries must be posted on the LGU’s official website, social media accounts, and at conspicuous places in the concerned barangays, and contain the given, middle and last names of the target recipients and their barangay and district prior to the actual payout schedule.
Grievance, appeals body
Meanwhile, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said the concerned city/municipal mayor shall create a Grievance and Appeals Committee down to the barangay level if necessary.
Likewise, a Joint Monitoring and Inspection Committee (JMIC) shall be established under the leadership of the DILG Field Officer to advise and monitor LGU compliance with the provisions of the JMC and MOA on cash aid distribution.
“Pinapaalala po natin sa ating mga LGUs na siguraduhing nakapirma ang mga nasa listahan pagtanggap nila ng pera, may photocopy ng kanilang mga ID na may kasamang pirma, may picture bilang katunayan na natanggap nila, at may sertipikasyon mula sa otorisadong opisyal o LGU bilang patunay na nangyari nga ang pamimigay ng cash assistance, (We are reminding our LGUS to make sure that those on the list who received the money have affixed their signatures, have a photocopy of their ID with signatures and picture as proof that they received the money and there should be a certification from an authorized official or LGU that the distribution of cash assistance transpired),” Malaya said.
He said LGUs must submit to their DILG Regional Offices and the DSWD field offices a daily report on the status of the financial assistance distribution.
As the distribution of the aid is subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, Malaya said the signatory LCE and other responsible officials of the LGU shall be held criminally, civilly, and administratively liable for any irregularity, unlawful practices, undue delay, or systemic anomalies in the distribution of the cash aid. (PR)
