MANILA, (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has tasked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to source approriate funds for aid for Metro Manila residents who will be affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from Aug. 6 to 20.

This was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque during his public briefing on Friday, following his news of the ECQ status to be imposed on the capital region, in light of the threat posed by the Delta variant. 

ECQ is the most restrictive quarantine classification.

Under existing government policy, the government will have to provide "ayuda" or cash aid-- through the Social Amelioration Program--to residents of affected areas of ECQ protocol ranging from P4,000 to P8,000 per household.

The DBM, however, said it is still looking for sources of funds for the cash aid.

Roque, nevertheless, assured the immediate release of funds to ensure the speedy distribution of the cash aid.

The decision to place Metro Manila under ECQ was reached after the Metro Manila Council, which is composed of metro mayors, met with the government inter-agency COVID-19 task force on Thursday to appeal for the imposition of stricter measures in NCR.

For the meantime, NCR will continue to be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until August 5, 2021.

Currently, NCR is averaging almost 1,100 new cases per day, and COVID-19 watchdog OCTA Research Group said the reproduction rate of the virus in Metro Manila has climbed to 1.35, which indicate sustained COVID-19 transmission. (PIA-NCR)