CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Ensuring financial assistance to low-income families affected by the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 partnered with three national line agencies in the conduct of President Rodrigo Duterte's ECQ Special Ayuda.

Targeting to harmonize and fast-track the distribution of the relief assistance to the residents of the said cities, DSWD-10 together with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police (PNP)-10 signed the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2 series of 2021, August 3 at Camp Alagar, here. 

"DSWD acknowledges the need to guarantee the efficient provision of programs to families affected by the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine. Our dear President is seeing to it that as we impose the ECQ, we will be there to support them," DSWD Usec. Felicisimo Budiongan said. 

He added that the department is fortunate to secure partnership with the two city governments to expeditiously and efficiently help the department to deliver the specialized assistance to the affected residents.

Based on the JMC, P1,000 is given individually, with a maximum of P4,000 per family, to the affected residents of the two cities. CDO has enlisted 191,956 family beneficiaries while Gingoog declared 53,000 families affected by the quarantine status.

"Base sa ibinigay na implementation plan ng Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City, mag-uumpisa ang pamimigay ngayong week bago papasok ang weekend (Based on the implementation plan submitted by Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City, the distribution will commence this week before the weekend)," DSWD-10 Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga-Libang said.

For his part, Gingoog City Mayor Erick Cañosa said they are thankful for the national government's assistance and he promised to help, support and distribute the cash assistance to the affected locals of their city. 

CDO Mayor Oscar Moreno, on the other hand, hopes that people would understand the problem, noting that the revenues have gone down consistently since last year.

"I can commiserate with the national government and yet people expect that you have the ayuda every time you have the ECQ. It’s as if it's automatic. People have forgotten that the solution to this is not the ayuda but rather the minimum public health standards," Moreno added.

The partner agencies also committed to provide necessary support to speed up the distribution including the possible conduct of door-to-door distribution, and ensuring order and observance of the health protocols.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved the release of P22.9 billion to the ECQ areas in the country, including the two cities in northern Mindanao. (RTP/PIA-10)