Metro Manila authorities have distributed P11.22 billion in cash aid meant to help low-income residents cope with the August lockdown meant to curb an uptick in COVID-19 cases, the interior department said Thursday.

"One hundred percent accomplished na po tayo," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired on Thursday.

Metro Manila's 13 million people were under the toughest lockdown from Aug. 6 to 20 before its quarantine level was downgraded a notch from Aug. 21.

The capital region on Thursday started testing out a 5-level alert system accompanied by granular lockdowns, which government hoped would arrest the spread of COVID-19 while reopening the economy.

• Guidelines in implementing new alert levels in Metro Manila released

Meanwhile, nearby Laguna province has finished distributing 87 percent of its lockdown "ayuda" while Bataan has handed out around 61 percent of the assistance, Año said.