SORRY is all that Malacanang could say over the slow distribution of cash aid to adversely affected families from Metro Manila and four adjoining provinces three weeks after it started the process.
In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque admitted the slow distribution of financial assistance, but hinted snail-pace as necessary — citing the need to be more careful amid the continuing pandemic scare.
Interestingly, the government has so far been able to hand out less than 20 percent of the allocated P22.9 budget for financial assistance in the areas placed under the most stringent lockdown level from the start of the Holy Week until April 11.
Roque also asked the public for patience over the delay even as he claimed that the government has distributed P4 billion out of the P22.9 billion budget for aid distribution.
“Humihingi po tayo ng paumanhin dahil talagang medyo may kabagalan. Pero sa panahon po kasi ng pandemya, hindi natin maiiwasan na talagang mag-ingat dahil baka mamaya mabigay nga iyong ayuda, magkaroon naman ng COVID ang mga taongbayan.”
Beneficiaries are supposed to receive P1,000 aid in cash or in kind. Up to 4 members of a family could be eligible for the assistance in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan.
Sought for an explanation why cash aid was not coursed through digital payment system just like it did in May last year, Roque said, “Ang iniiwasan ata, iyong service fee. Ayaw na nating mabawasan iyong makukuha ng taongbayan dahil alam natin na hindi naman masyadong malaki iyong P1,000 at P4,000 per family.”