MANILA -- Local government units should complete the distribution of the first tranche of emergency cash subsidies to poor families even as the deadline lapsed, Malacañang said Monday.

About 91 percent of 18 million target beneficiaries received subsidies as of the deadline on Sunday night, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.

"Patuloy pa rin dapat ang pamimigay until bawiin na ang pondo ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development)," Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

(Distribution should continue until the DSWD recalls the excess funds.)

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"Doon naman sa mga local government units na hindi pa nakakapagbigay ng 100 percent, ang ating mandato po ay ipagpatuloy pa rin hanggang matapos yang 100 percent na yan," Roque said.

(For local government units that have yet to distribute 100 percent of the aid, our mandate is to continue the distribution until it is 100 percent completed.)

With the near completion of the first tranche of emergency subsidies, Roque said the public could expect the distribution of the second tranche soon.

The government initially allotted P200 billion to give the poorest families P5,000 to P8,000 each for 2 months. The program will be expanded to cover 5 million more families.

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Once the first tranche of subsidies are liquidated, local governments will get funds for the second tranche from the social welfare department, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya had said.

Roque said guidelines on the distribution of cash aid for the second tranche, including the expansion of the program are set to be finalized on Monday.