Malacañang on Thursday confirmed President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of the more than P3.4 billion budget to be used as cash aid for low-income families in Bataan and Laguna affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The budget department proposed total cash aid amounts of P2.715 billion for Laguna and P700 million for Bataan.
“Yes, I can confirm that,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said about the figures in a press briefing.
Roque earlier said that families in the two provinces would be eligible for the same amount of cash aid as Metro Manila residents.
“Ganoon din po ang magiging arrangements natin, P1,000 per person and maximum of P4,000 per household at sapat naman po ang ating savings and dividends para bayaran po itong ayuda sa Laguna at Bataan,” Roque said.
The budget department earlier released about P10.9 billion to fund the financial assistance for Metro Manila residents.
Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya reported on Thursday that on top of the P10.9 billion, Duterte approved another P278 million for Metro Manila as requested by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units in the capital region.
Bataan is under ECQ until August 15, while Laguna is under ECQ until August 22. John Ezekiel J. Hirro