(File photo)
MANILA – The Makati City government on Thursday announced that it distributed about 52 percent of financial assistance to residents affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in just one day.
Mayor Abigail Binay said 233,679 residents have already received the cash subsidy through electronic transfer on Wednesday.
“We wanted to make the distribution of cash aid contactless and convenient. We are glad that we achieved a 52-percent utilization rate in just one day, without the long queues and crowds that would have put everyone at risk of getting infected with Covid,” she said in a television interview.
The city government’s Makatizen card program has partnered with digital financial services provider GCash for the safer mode of distribution.
“They only need to access the portal, proudmakatizen.com, and register or update their GCash account. The city will then be able to send them the allocated amount electronically,” she said.
Instead of going to the village halls, residents are urged to access the city government's official Facebook account.
“As much as possible, we must avoid face-to-face transactions to minimize the risk of virus transmission. We need to always think of safer alternatives for our constituents to access government assistance and essential services, especially now that more virulent strains are emerging,” Binay said.
The city government has been implementing contactless distribution of cash aid since last year.
Aside from the national government aid, Makati’s fully vaccinated senior citizens receive PHP1,000 gift certificates.
Local government units have 15 days to complete the ECQ aid distribution, which began on Wednesday, unless they have valid reasons for the delay. (With a report from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
