PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Wednesday ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to ensure that the distribution of government cash assistance in Metro Manila will not turn into ‘super spreader events.’

This after the NCRPO headed by Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. started assisting local government units in the metropolis in distributing cash assistance to low-income families affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Gen. Eleazar and top NCRPO officials inspected the deployment of their men in different Ayuda Centers in Quezon City and Manila early morning yesterday.

“Ang pangunahing bilin natin sa ating mga pulis ay siguraduhing hindi maging super spreader events itong pamamahagi ng ayuda sa ating mga kababayan. Alam naman natin na kailangan ng mga residente ang tulong ngayong ECQ kaya’t hindi malayong dagsain talaga ito,” the top cop said.

“Dito papasok ang ating kapulisan para siguraduhing nasusunod ang minimum public health safety standards at quarantine protocols lalo na ang social distancing at ang pagsusuot ng face masks at face shields,” he added.

Gen. Eleazar recalled the incident last week wherein the vaccination processes in some parts of Manila and Las Piñas City needed to be cancelled because of overcrowding.

“Hindi dapat mangyari sa cash aid distribution ang nangyari nitong nakaraang linggo sa iba’t-ibang vaccination centers kung saan dinumog ng mga tao,” he said.

The PNP chief said his field commanders should be aware of the schedule and system of cash aid distribution in their areas of responsibility.

“Nakikipagugnayan din tayo sa mga LGU officials dahil sila ang mangunguna sa pagbibigay ng ayuda. Ang magiging papel ng kapulisan sa cash aid distribution ay ang magbigay ng seguridad at tiyaking maayos ang proseso ng bigayan ng ayuda,” he said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has said that most of the LGUs will release the funds through various distribution points. The mayors will also post the list of beneficiaries and their schedule for claiming the cash assistance.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon