Affected families and individuals in the city and province of Iloilo which were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will receive cash aid.

This was confirmed by Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6) regional director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.

“Understanding the urgent need for assistance in Iloilo city and province which are now on ECQ, we will be immediately facilitating the releasing of cash aid to LGUs so that they can distribute simultaneously. Sabay-sabay na na pag-release para mabilis na matanggap ng mga tao ang tulong,” said Macapobre.

According to Macapobre, P1,000 will be given per individual with a maximum of four persons to be covered in a family.

The regional director said the P2.6 billion stimulus package targets to cover 665,561 families in the city and province of Iloilo.

The aid falls under DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. It is the provision of integrated services to individuals and families in crisis or difficult situation.

It can be noted that during the onset of the imposition of ECQ, Macapobre already said that the agency proposed provision of financial assistance for the Ilonggos.

“We are recommending provision of cash to the families because this option will be more responsive to the urgent needs of the people,” Macapobre added.

This was stipulated in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2021 undertaken by DSWD along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of National Defense (DND) signed on July 25 implementing guidelines for the distribution of financial assistance to local government units under ECQ.

Based on the guidelines, priority target beneficiaries of the special AICS are affected individuals and families who are suffering from the economic disruption brought about by the declaration of a localized ECQ in their area.

The target beneficiaries may include the following:

• families who were previous recipients of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) under Bayanihan 1 and additional beneficiaries of emergency subsidy under Bayanihan 2;
• individuals belonging to vulnerable groups such as individuals living alone, senior citizens or persons with disability (PWD); and
• others who have been stranded by reason of employment in the province, city, or municipality under ECQ.

LGUs are expected to release the assistance in cash to the beneficiaries and conduct the distribution of financial assistance within 15 days from receipt of funds transferred by the DSWD. (Glenda Tayona/with report from Social Marketing Service-DSWD Central /DSWD6)/WDJ