THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has assured that the distribution of the 18K Interim Shelter Fund for beneficiaries of the Oplan Likas Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will not be stopped despite the pandemic.
PCUP Chairman and CEO Alvin Feliciano said he wants the distribution to continue and make it even faster to help especially those who have lost their jobs and are unable to travel.
“Since there is no transportation yet, PCUP personally delivers the cheques house to house, and also, to avoid gathering of people to help stop the spread of the virus,” Feliciano added.
The Oplan Likas Program is for informal settlers living on major waterways and hazardous areas in Metro Manila. The National Housing Authority (NHA) provided relocations in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.
The PCUP Resettlement Unit which is responsible for the said program has already distributed cheques to 1,793 beneficiaries from 2017 to 2019.
Under quarantine, in May and July, the Commission reached 200 beneficiaries delivered directly to relocation sites in Pandi, Bulacan; Calamba, Laguna; Bocaue, Bulacan; Trece Martires, Cavite; Rodriguez, Rizal; SJDM, Bulacan; Teresa, Rizal; Baras, Rizal; and Norzagaray, Rizal.
The Commission was assisted by UPO leaders and the LGUs of the provinces during the distribution of cheques to ensure that the health protocols implemented are followed.
It is expected that DILG will give PCUP endorsement with an estimated 400-500 beneficiaries who will receive the 18k Interim Shelter Fund.
The DILG continues to process more and more 18k claimants.
For this month, the DILG is ready to endorse to PCUP the list of beneficiaries in Parañaque Homes II, Parañaque City, and an additional 20 individuals living in other NHAs and SHFC housing programs.
