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Laguna gets PHP2.7-B ECQ 'ayuda'

By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno

August 18, 2021, 3:09 pm

<p><em>(File photo)</em></p>

(File photo)

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – This town has been given a shade over PHP97 million worth of cash aid even as the entire province of Laguna gets a 10-digit paycheck for the "ayuda" (assistance) to be given to its residents.

Governor Ramil Hernandez on Wednesday said the national government shelled out PHP2.7 billion to Laguna for the financial assistance to be given to families heavily affected by the ongoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province.

"Tinatayang aabot sa 2.7 million na indibidwal o 80 percent ng low-income population ng lalawigan ang target na mabigyan ng ayuda (An estimated 2.7 million individuals or 80 percent of the low-income population of the province are being targeted to be given cash assistance)," Hernandez said in a statement.

To be exact, this town will get PHP97,040,000 out of the over PHP2.7 billion cash aid to be given out, the second largest among the municipalities.

The provincial capital of Sta. Cruz gets the highest amount among the non-cities with PHP98,780,000.

Calamba, Calabarzon's regional center, gets the lion's share of the cash aid as PHP412,031,000 will be given to the city government for distribution.

Sta. Rosa City is the next highest with PHP341,229,000, while Biñan gets a shade under PHP306 million.

Cabuyao would get PHP297,809,000, San Pedro will hand out PHP284,167,000, and San Pablo has been allotted PHP225,119,000 to round out the cash aids given to the cities.

"Ang computation ng alokasyon para sa bawat bayan at lungsod ay ibinase sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) sa low-income population ng LGU (local government units) o sa naging actual disbursement ng mga naunang ayuda (The DBM based the computation of the allocation for each town and city on the data of the PSA about the low-income population of the LGU or the actual disbursement of the earlier batches of cash aids)," Hernandez said.

He gave the town mayors the discretion on how they will distribute the “ayuda” to their fellow residents.

Hernandez said a priority list has been laid down by the Department of Social Welfare and Development on who will get the cash assistance and later said not all might be given the government aids.

"Batid po natin na bawat isa ay apektado, at nais man natin na lahat ng pamilya ay mabigyan, ang budget po ay limitado (We are aware that everyone is affected, and as much as we want to give cash aids to everyone, the budget is limited)," he said.

He, however, assured that the provincial government of Laguna will support the LGUs in their cash distribution.

He reminded everyone to continue exercising health protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as they receive their cash aids. (PNA)

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