MANILA -- Local government units will be allowed to extend the distribution of cash aid for up to 7 days from the original deadline on Thursday to avoid queues that violate physical distancing rules, the interior department said.

Following an appeal from Metro Manila mayors, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said local officials in the following areas will be given a 7-day extension from the original April 30 deadline:

- Metro Manila
- Cavite province
- Laguna province
- Rizal province
- Bulacan province
- Cebu City
- Davao City

• Zamora says LGUs need more time to distribute SAP
• Finish cash aid distribution by April 30, DILG tells local executives

Other local governments hounded by problems on the social amelioration program or SAP will be given a 4-day extension, Año said.

"Nakita namin na valid naman yung kanilang reasons kasi kaya naman talaga nila i-distribute yan (cash aid) sa takdang oras pero mava-violate yung physical at social distancing," Año said in a Palace briefing.

(We saw that their reasons are vaild because they can really distribute the cash aid within the deadline but there will be violations of physical distancing.)

Año reminded local officials to prepare the liquidation report for the first tranche of cash aid "immediately" so that the national government could process the second round.

The government allotted a P200 billion budget to provide cash aid to over 18 million poor families badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

The subsidies, ranging from P5,000 to P8,000, will be distributed in 2 tranches between April and May.