MANILA -- Local government units have distributed a total of P8.4 billion cash assistance to more than eight million beneficiaries affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, the country’s interior chief said on Tuesday.

The government has allocated P11.2-billion for the residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) put into isolation following the imposition of the quarantine restriction.

In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the distribution of subsidy in the NCR is now 75 percent complete.

An LGU has already completed the turn over of cash assistance before the target date and some are nearing completion. “So makikita po natin na ang Caloocan po ay pinakaunang nakatapos ng pamamahagi bago pa matapos ang deadline sa 100 percent,” Año said.

The deadline for the distribution of the subsidy will be extended until August 31 to give LGUs enough time to reach those who haven’t received the government support, according to Año.

At the same time, Año reported that nearly 400,000 residents of Laguna received P390 million cash assistance from the government.

Bataan, another province put under EQC, handed over P1.27 million Tuesday to 1,279 qualified residents.

The government allotted P2.7 billion for the affected residents of the two provinces. (PND)