Sunday, April 11, 2021
Teenager patay matapos mabangga ng cargo truck sa Butuan City
Patay ang isang 16 taong gulang na lalaki habang sugatan naman ang kaniyang kasamahan matapos mabangga ng cargo truck sa Barangay Sumilihon madaling araw ng Sabado.
Bandang alas-3 ng madaling araw nang mabangga ng truck sina Rodhneil Tano at ang 18 anyos na si Klint Galve, na noo'y naglalakad sa slow lane ng national highway, ayon sa mga awtoridad.
Nagtamo ng matinding sugat si Tano, na naging sanhi ng kaniyang pagkamatay, habang patuloy namang nagpapagaling sa ospital si Galve.
Hindi pa nagbibigay ng paliwanag ang driver ng cargo truck kaugnay sa pagbangga sa mga binatilyo pero kasalukuyan na siyang nasa kustodiya ng pulisya. – Ulat ni Charmane Awitan
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/teenager-patay-matapos-mabangga-ng-cargo-truck-sa-butuan-city
Some Metro Manila residents put fake name, address in COVID-19 test: official
Metro Manila residents are urged to put their real name and address when they undergo testing for coronavirus as some put false information, an official said Sunday.
The region will intensify its COVID-19 testing by using antigen test kits, said Benhur Abalos, chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
"Kung minsan po ang nangyayari pekeng pangalan ang binibigay at address. Kung peke naman ang binibigay niya, di mo mahahanap ang taong ito. 'Di naman po siguro ganun kadami ang gumagawa," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(Sometimes people give fake names and address. You can't trace them. We don't think many do it.)
"Ilagay talaga ang pangalan at address nang sa gayon kung magpositive, mapayuhan kaagad siya at ang kaniyang mga kasama na magpatreat at mag-isolate."
(Put your real name and address so if you test positive, authorities can advise you and your companions to be treat and isolated.)
The region's COVID-19 reproduction rate has slowed to 1.23 (April 3 to April 9) from 1.88 the week before strict lockdown was implemented, said independent research group OCTA.
The group, however, recommended the extension of strict lockdown in NCR Plus bubble to further slow down the growth of infections.
The Philippines on Saturday logged 12,674 more COVID-19 cases, its second-highest single day tally so far, bringing the total to 853,209.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, according to OCTA Research.
Ayuda sa Pateros, ibibigay via online app
Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News
Para maiwasan ang pagsikisikan sa pagkuha ng ayuda, inanunsyo ni Pateros Mayor Ike Ponce na ipapamahagi ang ayuda sa pamamagitan ng Starpay. Ito'y isang online payment gateway at pwedeng makuha ang pera sa mga remittance center gaya ng USSC.
Ayon sa alkalde, nakita niya sa ibang lungsod na umaabot ang pila hanggang madaling araw at punuan madalas sa covered court, kaya napagdesisyunan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Pateros na gagamit muli sila ng digital platform. Ang Starpay ay ginamit na rin noong isang taon sa pamimigay ng Social Amelioration Program.
Pero mababawasan ang ayuda ng mga tao dahil may service fee ang Starpay. Kung P4,000 ang makukuha mong ayuda para sa pamilya, P50 ang service fee. Kung P3,000 ay P40 ang fee, kung P2,000 ay P30 ang fee at kung P1,000 ang ayuda ay P20 naman ang service fee.
"Mas makabubuti naman ito kaysa naman tayo'y pumila ng matagal dahil manual ang ating ginagawa po. At wala rin po tayo sa kasalukuyan manpower sa ngayon para gumawa niyan, dahil sabi ko nga sa inyo, hanggang ngayon naka-lockdown pa rin ang ating Treasury Office at marami po sa ating mga manggagawa ang naka-closed contact rin sa mga nag positive, kaya talagang kokonti ang personnel," ayon sa alkalde.
Kailangan lang aniya ipakita ang ID para makuha ang ayuda. Magsisimula ang pamimigay ng ECQ ayuda sa Pateros sa Lunes. Pero hindi rin sabay-sabay para hindi pa rin mag siksikan. Iba ibang araw ang pag claim bawat barangay.
Humihingi naman ng pasensiya si Mayor Ponce dahil hindi lahat ng nakakuha ng SAP noong isang taon ay kasama sa mabibigyan ng ECQ ayuda ngayon. Maliit lang aniya ang budget na nabigay sa kanila kaya priority nila ang mga pinakamahirap sa munisipalidad. Posible aniya na nakatanggap sila ng SAP noong isang taon, pero baka hindi mabigyan ng ayuda ngayon. Tuloy pa rin ang pagvavalidate ng mga tauhan nila sa listahan.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/ayuda-sa-pateros-ibibigay-via-online-app
Saturday, April 10, 2021
'Paano kakain ang tao?': Ilang taga-'NCR Plus' bubble problemado kung palalawigin ang ECQ
Hindi madali ang pinagdadaanan ng pamilya ni Socorro Cabaes ngayong may COVID-19 pandemic.
Nahinto sa trabaho sa pabrika ang kaniyang anak, at bukod sa araw-araw na pagkain, kailangan din ni Cabaes ng pang-maintenance na gamot.
Dahil dito pagkakasyahin nila ang P3,000 ayuda na nakuha ngayong Sabado.
"Nagkakaproblema rin kasi wala nang trabaho. Ang government, magbigay din sila ng tulong sa atin kasi hindi na nga makapagtrabaho," ani Cabaes.
Nakatanggap din ng ayuda si Joey Magtira, residente ng Quezon City, pero hindi umano ito sasapat sa pagkain at gamot niya.
"E-extend mo, paano kakain ng tao? Paano lalabas? Walang pera, walang trabaho. Puwedeng sa bahay lang eh, pero asan ang pera?” ani Magtira.
Sa patuloy na pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa, kinakabahan din sina Jovelyn Bautista at John Robert San Pedro dahil baka mahawa sila at ang mga kaanak ng COVID-19.
Kahit parehong naka-work from home, lumalabas pa rin sila paminsan-minsan para mamili ng mga pangangailangan.
Punuan na ang mga ospital at karamihan sa mga isolation center, kaya ang tanong nila: saan sila pupunta kapag nagkaroon ng sakit?
"'Yun ang kinakatakot namin, di namin alam kung magagamot ba kami o hindi. Mahirap magtiwala ngayon sa gobyerno, sa totoo lang," ani Bautista.
"Sa mga nasa tent, paano ka gagaling kung ang kasama mo sa isang lugar ay COVID patients din. Mahirap ang sitwasyon natin," ani San Pedro.
Sabi ni Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire na hindi pa ramdam sa ngayon ang epekto ng ipinapatupad na enhanced community quarantine sa "NCR Plus" bubble.
"Ang COVID-19 has an incubation period na 14 days. So yung epekto ng mga ginagawa natin, hindi pa natin nakikita sa mga kasong ito. Katulad ng ginawa natin noong July at August na two weeks na ECQ, 10 days after, tsaka natin nakitang bumaba ang kaso, and about 3-4 weeks after, tsaka na-decongest ang mga ospital," ani Vergeire.
Inimungkahi naman ng OCTA Research Group na palawigin pa nang isa pang linggo ang ECQ. Ayon sa grupo, bumaba na sa 1.23 ang reproduction number sa NCR o ang bilang ng mga taong nahahawa ng isang positibong pasyente.
Gayunman, mataas pa rin ang hospital utilization, positivity rate, at mga kaso ng COVID-19.
"The best in terms of public health and hospitals ang primary consideration natin, ang recommendation natin is i-extend ang ECQ para mapababa natin ang reproduction number to less than 1. Kung hindi naman kakayanin, ang middle ground would be an MECQ, mas gradual na easing siya," ani OCTA Research Fellow Guido David.
Sang-ayon dito si Department of the Interior and Local Government officer in charge Bernardo Florece.
"So probably, another week would be enough, pero at the end of the day, ang nagdedebate diyan, members ng IATF at inaaral talaga kung ano ang rekomendasyon, babase pa rin tayo sa data available," ani Florece.
Magtatagal hanggang Abril 11 sa ngayon ang ECQ sa NCR Plus. Pinag-aaralan pa ng pandemic task force kung ano ang magiging quarantine classifications.
-- Ulat ni Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News
30 bahay nasunog sa Tatalon, Quezon City
May 60 pamilya ang apektado nang masunog ang 30 bahay sa Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City nitong Sabado ng hapon.
Pasado alas-tres ng hapon nang sumiklab ang sunog sa sa Cluster 5, Kaliraya Street sa Brgy. Tatalon.
Ayon kay Sr. Insp. Karl Aerole Rojales ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-QC, nagmula ang sunog sa bahay ni Florinda Paiste kung saan unang may naamoy lang na tila nasusunog na kable ng kuryente. Nang patayin daw nila ang master switch ay bigla na lang may pumutok saka may umapoy.
"Nakita ko usok pa lang tapos tumakbo na ako nakita ko may apoy na. Medyo malakas na sya kasi yung usok iba na, itim na," ani Fidel Fajardo, asa sa mga residente.
Agad nagtakbuhan palabas ng bahay ang mga residente at hindi na nakapagsalba ng gamit. Mabilis kumalat ang apoy dahil malakas umano ang hangin. Dikit-dikit din ang mga bahay dito na karamihan ay gawa sa light materials.
"Bigla kaming umakyat sa taas kasi narinig namin may nagsabing may sunog. Tumakbo po pababa tapos naghakot po kami," sabi ni Marvin Tanales na muntik masama sa mga nasunugan.
Umabot sa third alarm ang sunog pero bandang 4:11 ng hapon idineklarang "fire out" ang sunog.
Pansamantalang mananatili sa Light House Baptist Church sa Brgy Tatalon ang mga apektadong pamilya.
Tinatayang aabot sa higit P450,000 ang halaga ng mga nasunog na ari-arian. Wala naman nasaktan o namatay sa insidente.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/30-bahay-nasunog-sa-tatalon-quezon-city
Bigayan ng 'ECQ ayuda' sa Las Piñas, 500 katao kada araw lang sa bawat barangay
Umarangkada na nitong Biyernes ang pamamahagi ng cash assistance para sa 124,435 residente ng Las Piñas na kasama sa ilalim ng Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) sa "NCR Plus" bubble.
Inaasahang matataggap nila ito hanggang sa katapusan ng buwan, ayon sa mga awtoridad. Pero nasa 10,000 katao lang ang pinapila sa mga distribution centers sa 20 barangay sa lungsod noong Biyernes.
Nasa 500 katao lamang ang bibigyan ng ayuda kada barangay, kada araw para daw maiwasan ang pagdagsa ng mga tao, ayon sa lokal na pamahalaan ng siyudad.
Inaalam muna kung nasa listahan ang residente ng makatatanggap ng ayuda bago papasukin sa paaralan. Inuuna ang mga senior citizens at persons with disabilities (PWD).
Maaga namang pumila sa Almanza Elementary School ang ilang mga residente sa Barangay Almanza Uno para makatanggap ng financial assistance.
Kasama na rito ang 77-anyos na si Nelia Mendoza, na pumila sa labas ng Almanza Elementary School sa Bgy. Almanza Uno, Las Piñas alas-6 pa lang ng umaga noong Biyernes.
Dahil senior citizen at PWD, pinapasok agad si Mendoza sa eskuwelahan.
Ngunit sa huli, hinatid siya pauwi nang walang dalang pera.
Hindi pala kasi siya kasama sa batch ng mga makatatanggap ng ayuda sa araw na iyon.
Sabi ng barangay, susunduin na lang siya sa susunod.
Malaking tulong sana kay Mendoza ang matatanggap na pera.
“Wala akong kabuhayan, walang sumusuporta po. Pensyon lang ang inaasahan ko,” aniya.
“Hirap na hirap ako ngayon lalong nag-iisa ako sa kubo ko, kailangan ko ang tulong.”
Inilathala sa social media accounts ng Las Piñas City social welfare department (CSWD) at ng mga barangay ang listahan ng mga tatanggap ng ayuda para maabisuhan ang mga residente.
Nagpadala rin ng text sa mga naka-schedule ang ilang barangay.
May mga residente sa ibang barangay naman na nabigong makakuha ng ayuda dahil inakalang unang 500 tao na dumating ang bibigyan ng ayuda imbes na ang naka-schedule.
Sa Almanza Uno, sinikap na masunod ang physical distancing sa labas ng paaralan.
Mano-manong inalam muna kung kasama ang tao sa listahan ng batch saka papasukin.
Ayon kay Kagawad Alfredo Medina, ginawang isang lokasyon kada barangay ang pamamahagi ng ayuda imbes na bahay-bahay para sentralisado ito lalo’t mga tauhan mula sa CSWD ang nangunguna ng mismong pamimigay ng pera.
Ipagkakasiya ng dating kasambahay na si Josephine Aguilar, 36, ang nakuhang P4,000 para sa anim na anak.
Natigil ang pamamasukan niya noong nagsimula ang pandemya kaya umaasa siya sa mga ayuda ng pamahalaan.
Hinihintay pa rin niyang makuha ang ikalawang tranche mula sa Social Amelioration Program (SAP) na inilabas noong 2020 pa.
“Fino-follow-up po namin, ang sabi ng munisipyo, nasa barangay na po. Ang sabi naman po ng barangay sa amin po, nasa DSWD pa rin daw po kaya antay-antay lang po kami,” sabi niya.
“Isang taon na mahigit. Matagal na po, ‘yon lang ang inaasahan namin.”
Sabi ng barangay, nakatakda nang ipamahagi ang SAP 2 para sa mga residente nila sa kalagitnaan ng Abril.
Aabisuhin pa kung sa anong paraan ito ipamimigay.
Walong oras kada araw ang inilaan ng mga barangay para sa pamamahagi ng ECQ ayuda o hanggang matapos mabigyan ang lahat ng nakalista.
Ayon kay Paul San Miguel ng Las Piñas City Public Information Office, kung makita nilang maagang natatapos ang pamimigay sa naka-schedule na 500 tao, posibleng magsabay na ng ibang batch basta’t nasusunod ang health and safety protocols sa lugar.
Nagpabuo na rin ang lokal na pamahalaan ng mga grievance and appeals committee sa city at barangay level na malalapitan ng mga benepisyaryo.
DILG exec favors another week of ECQ in NCR Plus
The two-week hard lockdown in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces may not be enough to stem the spread of COVID-19, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.
DILG officer-in-charge Bernardo Florece Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 response is set to meet Saturday to discuss the lockdown status of the areas collectively known as NCR Plus under the 2-week enhanced community quarantine.
The ECQ period is set to end on April 11 and government is expected to make an announcement on quarantine levels later Saturday.
“Almost 2 weeks na tayo pero ‘di pa natin ganap na nararamdaman 'yung epekto nito so probably another week will be enough," Florece said in an interview on TeleRadyo.
"Pero at the end of the day, of course ang nagde-debate dyan members ng IATF at inaaral talaga kung ano ang rekomendasyon pero babase talaga sa available data sa science. 'Yun ang pinagbabasehan ng IATF,” he said.
(Almost 2 weeks, but we have yet to feel the effects so probably another week will be enough. But, at the end of the day, it is the members of the IATF who will debate on it, and will study what to recommend based on available science data.)
OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David had also recommended extending ECQ in NCR Plus to bring down the number of infections.
David had said that the reproduction rate in the bubble has gone down to 1.24, from Wednesday’s 1.43.
Florece said this figure should go lower.
“Dapat bumaba na 'yung reproduction number at kulang na rin ang naoospital at namamatay. Ito 'yung lahat na pinag-aaralan, meron naman tayong mga eksperto dito na nagre-recommend sa IATF,” said Florece.
(The reproduction number should go down as well as the number of those hospitalized and the deaths. These are all being studied and we have experts that recommend to the IATF.)
On Friday, the Philippines reported a record-high 401 COVID-19 deaths, more than half of which have been reclassified, with active infections reaching an all-time high at over 178,000.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/dilg-exec-favors-another-week-of-ecq-in-ncr-plus
Friday, April 9, 2021
North-South Commuter Railway
The North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR), also known as the Clark–Calamba Railway, is a 148 km (92 mi) suburban passenger rail metro network being constructed in Luzon. "The NSCR will have 37 stations, spanning 29 local government units, and connecting 3 regions."
History
Background
Manila–Clark rapid railway system
A railway system running from Manila to Clark was set to be constructed in the 1990s, when then President Fidel Ramos signed a memorandum of agreement with Juan Carlos I of Spain for its construction in September 1994.
On August 24, 1995, North Luzon Railways was formed as a subsidiary of Bases Conversion and Development Authority. The NLRC then entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract (EPRC) with the Spanish Railways Corporation on February 7, 1996, but the contract was later terminated on August 14, 1998, after the parties disagreed on the source of funding for the project.
In September 1999, the NEDA-ICC later approved the project, then known as the Manila–Clark rapid railway system, with Phase 1 covering the Caloocan–Calumpit segment and the source of funding to be the Obuchi Fund from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Right-of-way clearing and relocation of informal settlers began, but a presidential directive later halted the clearing activities, and the JBIC loan never happened.
NorthRail project
On September 14, 2002, a memorandum of understanding was signed by NorthRail and China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG) for the project. It was later approved as the NorthRail project on August 5, 2003, with the first phase covering Caloocan to Malolos segment. The project was estimated to cost around US$500 million, and the funding was to be covered by a US$400 million by the Export–Import Bank of China, and the rest to be shouldered by the government through BCDA and NLRC.
The project involved the upgrading of the existing single track to an elevated dual-track system, converting the rail gauge from narrow gauge to standard gauge, and linking Manila to Malolos City in Bulacan and further on to Angeles, Clark Special Economic Zone and the Clark International Airport. Preparatory construction began in early November 2006. Due to delays in the construction work, it was soon renegotiated with the Chinese government. Construction temporarily continued in January 2009 with the support of the North Luzon Railways Corporation.
Aquino administration
The NorthRail project was cancelled in March 2011, due to a series of delays, work stoppages, a controversy and anomalies with the foreign contractor. According to then DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, the Chinese were open to reconfiguring the project, and that he was meeting with his Chinese counterpart in a month's time. However, nothing materialized out of these talks.
The Philippine Supreme Court handed down in March 2012 a decision giving a lower court the go-signal to hear the case calling for the annulment of the allegedly overpriced contract. Instead of settling the entire US$184 million due in 2012, the Department of Finance will pay Export-Import Bank of China 4 equal payments of $46 million starting September 2012. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Arsenio Balisacan said the 80-kilometer Northrail project would resume within the term of President Benigno Aquino III, but despite this announcement, the Northrail project was scrapped and replaced under different terms with different contractors.
The Department of Transportation and Communications previously examined reviving the project by commissioning a feasibility study by CPCS Transcom Ltd. of Canada. Part of the study examined having a Malolos–Tutuban–Calamba–Los Baños commuter line.
A feasibility study for the North–South Commuter Railway was still ongoing when the NEDA approved the dream plan in 2014.
Development
In November 2017, DOTr, BCDA, and North Luzon Railways reached an out-of-court settlement with Sinomach, resolving the five-year dispute. The new name for the project was announced by Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on June 25, 2017 with a ceremony in which the first 5 stations were given their location markers.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will finance NSCR North 1, while the remaining sections will be co-financed by the Asian Development Bank.
Construction
Construction of the NSCR will be built into three phases and will be divided into two lines.
NSCR North (Tutuban–Malolos–Clark)
NSCR North, also known as PNR Clark, was divided into two phases. NSCR North 1 involves the 38 km (24 mi) Tutuban-Malolos segment, while NSCR North 2 involves the 53 km (33 mi) Malolos–Clark Railway. The 91-kilometer railway line, when fully completed, will run from Tutuban Station in Manila to New Clark City (NCC), passing through Clark International Airport (CIA).
Pre-construction work such as clearing of the right of way was started in January 2018. The groundbreaking and construction from Tutuban to Malolos started on February 15, 2019. The contract for the construction of PNR North 1 was awarded to the Filipino-Japanese consortium of DMCI Holdings and Taisei Corporation on May 21, 2019.
On the other hand, the first three contracts for the construction of NSCR North 2 had been opened in August 2019. A record 11 firms from various ADB member countries participated in the bid.
NSCR North 1 is expected to be completed by 2021, while NSCR North 2 is slated for operation 2 years later by 2023.
NSCR South (Solis–Calamba)
The existing Metro Commuter Line will be reconstructed as an elevated electrified standard-gauge line. The 72 km railway will run from Solis, Manila to Calamba, Laguna. It is expected to be completed by 2025.
Future
A study originally published in 2014 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the National Economic and Development Authority, and ALMEC Corporation revealed the master plan for the NSCR. The entire line will run between Tarlac City and Batangas City. If realized, the total system length will be around 220 kilometers.
- MCRP Civil Packages: Total of 5 civil packages, 5 elevated stations and 1 underground station
- NSRP-South Civil Packages: Total of 8 civil packages 18 elevated stations
- E&M Packages: Total of 10 systems
- Commuter Rolling Stock: 38 Commuter Trainsets
- Depots: Mabalacat (North) and Banlic (South)
Regions
- Central Luzon
- Metro Manila
- CALABARZON
- Capas
- Bamban
- Mabalacat
- Angeles
- San Fernando
- Santo Tomas
- Minalin
- Apalit
- Calumpit
- Malolos
- Guiguinto
- Balagtas
- Bocaue
- Marilao
- Meycauayan
- Valenzuela
- Malabon
- Caloocan
- Manila
- Makati
- Taguig
- Parañaque
- Muntinlupa
- San Pedro
- Binan
- Santa Rosa
- Cabuyao
- Calamba
- Los Banos
- New Clark City
- Capas
- Bamban
- Clark International Airport
- Clark
- Balibago
- Angeles
- Tablante
- Calulut
- San Fernando
- Santo Tomas
- Macaluc
- Apalit
- Sulipan
- Calumpit Norte
- Calumpit
- Bagbag
- Malolos
- Cofradia
- Dakila
- Bagong Bayan
- Bulacan Sports Complex
- Bulacan Industrial City
- Tabang
- Guiguinto
- Bigaa
- Lomboy
- Bunio
- Bocaue
- Saluysoy
- SM City Marilao
- Saog
- ITM
- Meycauayan College
- Meycauayan
- Polo
- Dalandanan
- Malinta
- Tinajeros (Goldendale Business Park)
- Governor Pascual
- Caloocan-Sangandaan
- Caloocan
- Horace Higgins Hall
- C3
- Hermosa
- Solis
- Tutuban
- Tayuman
- Mayhaligue
- Blumentritt
- Laong-Laan
- España
- Legarda
- Sampaloc
- Santa Mesa
- Pandacan
- Paco
- San Andres
- Vito Cruz
- Dela Rosa
- Pasay Road
- EDSA
- Nichols
- FTI
- Bicutan
- Sucat
- Buli
- Alabang
- Muntinlupa
- Tunasan
- San Pedro
- Pacita Complex
- Golden City 1
- Biñan
- Santa Rosa
- Golden City 2
- Cabuyao
- Mamatid
- Banlic
- Calamba
- Bucal
- Pansol
- Masile
- Los Baños
- UP Los Baños
- IRRI
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Fate of ECQ in NCR Plus to be discussed on April 10: Palace
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will discuss on Saturday the implementation of quarantine classification in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces after April 11, Malacañang said on Thursday.
This developed after some members of the Cabinet met Thursday to tackle the government’s response efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force shall meet on Saturday, April 10, 2021, to discuss the quarantine classification of the National Capital Region Plus,” Roque said.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, or the so-called “NCR Plus,” have been placed under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since March 29.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of PHP23 billion worth of emergency subsidy to around 22.9 million beneficiaries affected by the implementation of ECQ.
Each recipient can avail of either in-kind or cash assistance amounting to PHP1,000 per person or PHP4,000 per family.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided the local government units (LGUs) with a list of qualified beneficiaries for the latest round of financial aid following the reimposition of ECQ in NCR Plus.
During the meeting, Cabinet officials also agreed to let the LGUs “at the barangay level” handle the prepositioning of goods, including the distribution of wellness kits to those who tested positive for Covid-19, Roque said.
Roque added that the government is also exhausting all efforts to address the issue of hazard pay of healthcare workers.
Last week, Malacañang floated the possible shift to a more relaxed modified ECQ (MECQ), in case the government’s Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategies turn out to be effective in lowering daily Covid-19 infections.
Medical front-liners from the Visayas have volunteered to be sent to Metro Manila, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, to help beat the coronavirus.