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Poor households to get ECQ cash aid despite shift to MECQ

By Azer Parrocha

August 23, 2021, 6:10 pm

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

(File photo)

MANILA – Low-income households previously under the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) who are yet to receive their cash aid will get them even after the quarantine status has been downgraded, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this assurance amid concerns that the change in quarantine classifications to modified ECQ (MECQ) would mean that cash aid will no longer be given to beneficiaries.

“Habang hindi niyo pa po natatanggap ang ayuda ninyo maski naiababa na sa MECQ ang classification, tatanggapin niyo pa rin po ang ayuda na intended para dun sa panahon ng ECQ (While you have not yet received your cash aid even if the quarantine status was downgraded to MECQ, you will still receive the cash aid intended for you during the ECQ period),” he said in a press briefing in SM City San Mateo

Roque said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would also provide additional in-kind aid to poor families.

“Ang DSWD po ay mayroon talagang nakalaan na mga family food packs bukod pa dun sa mga naibibigay po ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan (The DSWD has allotted food packs besides the aid being given by our local government units),” he added.

Each qualified resident in areas under ECQ may receive cash assistance of PHP1,000 each or up to a maximum PHP4,000 per family.

Citing data from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Roque said 75 percent of beneficiaries or 8.4 million beneficiaries in Metro Manila have already received their cash aid.

He said the government is open to the possibility of extending the Aug. 25 deadline of completing the distribution of cash aid.

On Thursday night, President Rodrigo Duterte downgraded the quarantine status in Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna and Bataan from ECQ to MECQ.

Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan will be under MECQ until the end of the month. (PNA)

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