Claim ayuda by May 15 deadline
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program last year in the NCR Plus area that they have until today, May 15, to claim their 2021 Ayuda from their respective local government units (LGUs).
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said May 15 is the deadline set by the DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of National Defense for the distribution of ayuda or financial assistance by the LGUs as provided in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2021.
The 2021 Ayuda is a P22.9-billion financial assistance package ordered released by the President for distribution to low-income individuals in areas affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which covers Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal, also known as NCR Plus. It consists of P1,000 per individual for a maximum of P4,000 per family.
Malaya said that despite repeated calls from the LGUs, some beneficiaries have yet to claim their ayuda. “Some of the beneficiaries may have gone home to the provinces or may have moved outside of NCR Plus for whatever reason, but just the same they have until tomorrow to claim their Ayuda otherwise they would be deemed to have waived their emergency subsidy,” he said.
He added that after the May 15 deadline, the LGUs shall prepare a new payroll of beneficiaries affected by the ECQ in their respective communities utilizing the unclaimed funds.
“Under JMC 1A issued by Secretary Eduardo M. Año, Secretary Rolando Bautista and Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the LGUs may use the unclaimed funds to prepare a supplemental list of other beneficiaries affected by the ECQ and distribute the same within 10 days,” he said.
He said that the LGU Grievance and Appeals Committees have until May 25, 2021, to act on all complaints and appeals referred to it including new issues arising from the supplemental payroll.
Some 28 LGUs have already completed their distribution of ayuda, two days ahead of the May 15 deadline. In the National Capital Region, the City of Manila has completed its distribution, as well as six LGUs in Bulacan, five LGUs in Cavite and 16 LGUs in Laguna.
As of yesterday, 90 percent of the P22.9-billion ayuda has been distributed to beneficiaries in the NCR Plus area amounting to P20.5 billion, consisting of some 22,915,422 individual beneficiaries.
Among those that have completed the distribution are Baliwag, Guiguinto, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, and San Rafael in Bulacan; Tagaytay, Amadeo, Mendez, Naic and Noveleta in Cavite; and Biñan, Cabuyao, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, Alaminos, Calauan, Famy, Magdalena, Nagcarlan, Paete, Pagsanjan, Pakil, Pila, Rizal, Santa Cruz and Siniloan in Laguna.
