Vico Sotto: Pasig to Shell Out P1 Billion Cash Aid for All Residents

Pasig City is rolling out the largest cash aid relief effort in Metro Manila amid the COVID-19 crisis. In an interview with DZMM, Mayor Vico Sotto announced that the city will augment the cash aid from the national government so that all families in Pasig will receive cash.

“We reviewed last week the cash position of Pasig, and we saw that the local government of Pasig can shoulder the aid for those not included in the 93,000 on the DSWD list,” said Sotto.

“We will shell out more than P1 billion pesos or P8,000 per family.”

According to Sotto, Pasig has an estimated 206,000 families. The national government has allotted funds for 93,000 families in Pasig. For the 150,000 families not covered by the aid from the national government, Sotto said the local government of Pasig will make sure they are also given cash aid.

No Time to Determine Who Should Receive Aid

According to Sotto, there is no time for the local government to determine who should receive aid, that is why he is opening the cash assistance for all Pasig residents, regardless if they are not voters in the city.

“They don’t have to be voters [registered in Pasig]. As long as you’re residents of Pasig, they will receive [cash aid]” said Sotto.

Although the distribution will not discriminate against wealthier residents, the mayor requested that they decline the aid if they don’t need it.

“We will open the cash assistance for everyone. We encourage those who are well-off to decline the cash aid, or if they would accept, to just give it to those who are needier,” said Sotto.