MANILA — The government has approved aid of P1,000 each for 1 million residents in need in areas under the strictest COVID-19 lockdown, Malacañang said Thursday.

Up to 4 members of a family can get the P1,000 in aid per person in the one province and 3 cities under enhanced community quarantine, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.

“Ang pondo po ay dina-download na po sa mga lokal na pamahalaan ng Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Cagayan De Oro City, at Gingoog City,” he said in a press briefing.

(The fund is being downloaded to the local governments of Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Gingoog City.)

The 4 areas were placed under enhanced community quarantine, the toughest of 4 lockdown levels, on July 16. They would keep their ECQ status at least until Aug. 7.

• Metro Manila, nearby provinces remain under GCQ with heightened restrictions

The funds will come from the social welfare department's "Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation" program, said Roque.

With more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases and more than 27,000 deaths, the Philippines has the second worst outbreak in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

To contain local transmission of the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant, authorities have tightened restrictions in several areas including Metro Manila, and suspended the entry of travelers from 10 countries, among others.

With only 6 percent of the Philippines' 110 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, millions remain vulnerable to infection. The government is aiming to fully immunize up to 70 million people before the year ends.

– With a report from Reuters

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