President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday approved the proposal to grant P23-billion worth of aid to about 22.9 million individuals in areas affected by the weeklong enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said 11.2 million people from Metro Manila, three million from Bulacan, 3.4 million from Cavite, 2.7 million from Laguna, and 2.6 million from Rizal will receive P1,000-worth of “in-kind” aid or compensation for loss of livelihoods during the one-week ECQ.
Avisado, likewise, said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is ready to download the funds to the local government as soon as the President approves the memorandum.
The law, which has been extended until June 30 this year, allocates a total of P140 billion to help sectors affected by the health crisis, and P25 billion in standby funds should the government need more money to finance COVID-19-related projects.