THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said there is no order yet with regard to the disbursement of “ayuda” funds once the hard lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) is implemented starting August 6.
DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado said they are still waiting for instructions coming from the Office of the President on the disbursement of cash aid funds for affected families.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Karl Kendrick Chua, on the other hand, said that the economy stands to lose P105 billion for each week that NCR is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), adding that the number of poor people could increase to 177,000 and at least 444,000 will be jobless.
Malacañang earlier today placed Metro Manila under ECQ from August 6 to 20 in a bid to mitigate the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant of the dreaded virus from Wuhan, China.
Under existing government policy, the government will have to grant cash aid to residents of affected areas of ECQ protocol ranging from P1,000 to P4,000 per household.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has earlier said the government has no budget for cash aid for the implementation of an ECQ protocol in Metro Manila, but added the government would look for sources if necessary.
Areas under ECQ are seen closing shops as new guidelines allow only essential trips and services.