BIÑAN CITY Mayor Arman Dimaguila Jr. is a kind of leader who derives satisfaction from seeing that all his constituents are treated well and fairly especially the poor.
In a move that sent smiles once again to his thousands of his kababayans that have been suffering because of the pandemic, the mayor together with the city government has decided to elevate their cash aid distribution a notch higher.
Ayuda 2.0
This, after they implemented what they called Ayuda version 2.0.
Under the program, the city government did not just rely on handing out the cash aid that came from the national government but opted to up the ante by deciding that every resident will receive P 1 thousand cash assistance regardless of their status.
The initiative was to ensure that everyone will be given cash assistance and nobody will be left out even those who were not on the list provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Second time
Actually, this is not the first time that the city government has decided to go one step further just to ensure that nobody would be left out as far as extending help to its constituents is concerned.
Last April, the local government also did the same thing when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was also implemented.
City officials interviewed by OpinYon Laguna said there’s almost no difference to the distribution of cash aid this month and the earlier “ayuda” distribution last April.
“Ang target pa rin natin ay halos lahat ng mga Biñanense ay mabigyan [ng ayuda],” Olay Casbadillo, head of the city’s Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said at the kick-off of the distribution of cash aid last August 19.
Orderly manner
And just like what happened last April, the distribution will be conducted in an orderly manner as they will go “house to house” to ensure an equitable distribution of funds.
The system will also deter large crowds that could turn the distributions into “superspreader” events, especially with the threat of the more contagious Covid-19 Delta variant.
“Ang pagkakaiba lang po siguro ay pipilitin lang po namin na maging mas mabilis ang distribution.”
Casbadillo said the “Ayuda v. 2.0” distribution team hopes to beat the eleven days it had taken for them to give out the aid last April, especially that Mayor Dimaguila has given them a target of seven or eight days to complete the distribution.
Automatically included
Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Biñan head Fatima Alon said those who have received their “ayuda” last April will also be automatically included in the second wave of distribution, under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2021.
“Magtatanggal lang po kami [sa listahan] kung may namatay o may lumipat ng tirahan na wala na sa ECQ areas,” Alon explained.
While the city’s indigent residents or the “poorest of the poor” have high priority on the distribution of cash aid, the local government can also assess at their discretion on who they want to include in the program, she added.
Supplementary funds
The decision of the city government to give out aid to all Biñanenses once again necessitated some deep searching into the city's pockets, according to other officials.
The city government decided to inject some additional funds to complement the P305,951,000 that the national government allocated to Biñan City for the cash aid.
According to Octavio Almenanza, head of the city's Budget Office, they added a supplemental budget of P70 million for the program.
The funds, Almenanza said, came from savings from personnel, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlays.
Big help
While P1,000 per person - or a maximum of P4,000 per family - may not sound much, Biñanenses interviewed by OpinYon Laguna said the cash aid is a big help for them especially as their livelihoods were affected by the reimposition of the ECQ.
“Malaking tulong na rin ito, lalo na sa pagbabayad namin ng kuryente at tubig,” a resident of Barangay Sto. Tomas said.
More patience
As the rollout of cash distribution will be done house-to-house, Mayor Dimaguila said he is asking for patience among his constituents.
“Sumunod lang po sila [beneficiaries] sa instructions ng mga nagpi-payout. Alam na po nila kung ano ang kanilang gagawin,” Dimaguila said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
Just like during the first tranche of “ayuda,” the mayor added that every effort will be taken to ensure that Biñanenses will receive their cash aid.
“Hinahanap po natin ang dahilan para magbigay, hindi para hindi magbigay,” he stressed.
Residents are advised to stay at home and wait for the distribution team, as well as practice proper health protocols such as wearing face masks and face shields when interacting with them.
Functioning leadership
Through their “house-to-house” distribution of cash aid, the city government hopes to reassure its constituents that the government is making an effort to reach out to those whose livelihoods were affected – and continue to be affected – by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Kapag ganitong nahihirapan ang mga tao, wala silang pwedeng puntahan kundi ang gobyerno,” Dimaguila stressed.
“Gusto ko pong maipadama sa ating mga kababayan na from the national and local government – hanggang sa pinakamaliit na mga kawani ng Biñan, ang pamahalaang lungsod ng Biñan – kami po ay involved at gusto po naming makatulong.”
On the other hand, Dimaguila said they are also prepared against unscrupulous residents who may try to cheat by switching barangays to receive aid more than once.
“Centralized po ang ating record, at makikita po namin ito – and the City Legal Office will be running after you,” he warned.