DILG: Prioritize the poor, PWD in relief distribution

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units (LGUs) on Friday to prioritize the indigent persons with disabilities (PWD) in the distribution of relief goods during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año also asked the local chief executives (LCE) to ensure that the poorest among the poor and the other qualified beneficiaries given the aid provided by the national government.

He issued the call after the DILG had received reports that rogue barangay officials have prioritized only their supporters and purposely deprived the qualified recipients in the relief pack distribution.

“The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is more challenging to vulnerable groups like PWDs. The DILG urges LGUs to prioritize PWDs in distributing food packs, medicine, and vitamins,” Año said.

In Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-066, provincial governors are enjoined to ensure that their city and municipal mayors shall include PWDs in their list of beneficiaries and indicate the recipients’ disability.

The enlistment is to be done by barangay workers with the barangay captains then submitting the lists to their mayors who shall then submit the roster to the governors.

Año said the governors will then submit the data to the DILG for consolidation of reports.

Further, all LGUs, particularly barangays, shall ensure that PWDs are able to access adequate food and take into consideration their nutritional requirement as provided by law.

They should also allow the use of barangay vehicles for the PWDs under emergency situations.

The DILG chief said that the municipal and city governments should provide adequate support to the barangays immediately during such urgent situations as needed.

“Pagbabayanihan ang makakaahon sa atin mula sa krisis na dulot ng Covid-19 (Bayanihan will tide us through the COVID-19 crisis). Provincial, city, and municipal governments together with their barangays can protect their constituents from this pandemic by cooperating with each other. Tigil-politika muna, buhay ng mamamayan muna (Let us temporarily stop politicking and train our sights on the needs of the people),” Año said.