DILG waiting for clarification on 'withdrawn' authority to distribute cash aid amid ECQ
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 1:50 p.m.) — Although aid distribution in Metro Manila is set to begin on Wednesday, the Department of Interior and Local Government is still waiting on Malacañang to clarify recent statements made by President Rodrigo Duterte about withholding a certain city's "power to distribute" financial assistance.
Duterte at a meeting intended to tackle the government's pandemic response aired Monday night singled out a local government for "disorder" at its vaccination sites and derided its mayor's past acting career.
While he was not named directly, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno is the only Metro Manila mayor who has publicly acknowledged taking suggestive photos as part of his past acting career which Duterte alluded to.
Moreno also trails directly behind the president and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in surveys for possible presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He has also said that he will not support any presidential candidate from a political dynasty in 2022.
"[T]here is one city that I will not give power to distribute aid simply because, in so many instances, they cannot organize," Duterte said partially in Filipino.
"Then smear here, smear there. And, you know, it has happened several times and several times he has blamed people other than himself."
But because no names were mentioned by the president, DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told Philstar.com that the department is waiting on the Palace to clarify Duterte's remarks: "The president did not identify the LGU so we can’t act unless there is a specific and clear instruction."
"[W]e will defer to [Sec.] Harry [Roque because] he’s the presidential spokesperson and not us," Malaya also said.
The confusion comes just a day before Metro Manila cities are scheduled to begin the distribution of badly-needed cash assistance amid a two-week lockdown enforced by the national government.
While Duterte singled out a city, it was actually several local governments, namely Las Piñas, Manila and Quezon City which saw larger crowds than expected flocking to their vaccination sites on August 5.
The national government has said it was false information that the unvaccinated would not be eligible for cash aid amid the two-week lockdown hoisted over Metro Manila that caused people to panic and rush to get vaccinated.
But in a taped address aired July 28, Duterte warned those who refuse to be vaccinated that they would not be allowed to leave their homes.
Manila's 'efficient, timely' aid distribution recognized by national gov't
Meanwhile, the City of Manila on Tuesday recalled that the DILG less than two months ago formally recognized its "efficient and timely" distribution of aid.
The city's public information office posted to social media a copy of a certificate of recognition awarded to Moreno in recognition of his efforts "despite the challenges of the pandemic," dated June 30, 2021.
Palace fails to clarify Duterte rant but assures aid for all Metro Manila poor
Asked later Tuesday to clarify if and how Duterte's threat to withdraw an LGU's authorization to distribute aid will be implemented, Roque said in Filipino: "Frankly, I don't know. I leave it to the DILG and the [Department of Social Welfare and Development] because they are the ones who were assigned."
"There must be talks ongoing right now but I am not privy to the talks," he also said during his regular briefing.
This, despite the fact that the DILG earlier said it was waiting on Roque to clarify the president's remarks.
Philstar.com reached out to the interior department again to inquire about its next steps following Roque's statement but has yet to receive a response as of this writing.
The Palace spokesman assured, however, that all poor Metro Manila residents will receive aid amid the lockdown, even those residing in the LGU alluded to by Duterte.
"It was the president who told the [pandemic task force] that there can be no ECQ without aid," he said in Filipino. "So, if you are under ECQ, you will receive aid."
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