Palace assures aid for NCR Plus residents affected by ECQ
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino families whose livelihood would be severely affected by the weeklong enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces will be provided with assistance from the government, Malacañang said.
“Dahil naintindihan po ni Presidente na habang tayo’y naka-ECQ eh walang pupuwedeng magtrabaho, magkakaroon po tayong tulong na ipamimigay sa ating mga kababayan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said a press briefing.
The details of the assistance to be provided during the ECQ period have yet to be announced but Roque assured it will be distributed in the month of April.
“Well siyempre po kasi sa lockdown, mahirap mamigay ng tulong at isang linggo lang naman ito. Pero ang target po natin, hindi rin naman po matatapos ang buwan ng Abril eh makakarating iyong tulong na ibibigay ng gobyerno sa mga nangangailangan,” he said.
Among those who are expected to receive assistance are family-beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other indigent families.
The NCR and nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna – called the ‘NCR Plus’ bubble – have been placed under ECQ from March 29 to April 4 in a bid to quell the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)