By Joseph Almer Pedrajas Residents of Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan city have been scrambling to get their cash aid from the government for the past several days, breaking social distancing rules imposed in a bid to stem the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Screenshot of video from Joanna Ciar / MANILA BULLETIN On May 6, Wednesday morning, hundreds of individuals, previously in line in front of a high school in Phase 3 area, were caught in a video racing against one another after they were informed that the venue for the distribution of cash assistance was already transferred to Phase 10. Some of them walked, some ran, some rode on their motorcycles and tricycles, in a bid to get to the new venue as soon as possible, while forming an exodus of face-mask-wearing people. Joanna Ciar, who took the video, told the Manila Bulletin that these residents lined up as early as 4 a.m. after they were told that the P8,000 assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would be distributed. Four hours later, however, they had yet to receive any money. “Dumating staff ng mga tiga DSWD na akala nila mag-uumpisa na bigla sasabihin lumipat sila ng Phase 10 (DSWD personnel arrived in the area so people thought the the distribution of money would start. But they were told that they should transfer to Phase 10),” she said. In front of Kalayaan High School, a throng of residents, including senior citizens, were seen in a photo close to each other while awaiting cash assistance. At the Phase 10 area, there was also a meters-long line of people waiting under the heat of sun. Scenes like these have been happening in the barangay since the start of the distribution of cash assistance, according to residents. This raised their concerns that the already high COVID-19 cases in their area would continue to rise because of the violation of social distancing rules, enforced all over the world to contain the virus. According to the Caloocan public information office, Bagong Silang has already had 19 cases as of May 5. It has had the highest COVID-19 case in the city, prompting authorities to place it under extreme enhanced community quarantine since March. Residents have been requesting barangay officials, but to no avail, to just post the names of the beneficiaries of DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) on Facebook to lessen the number of people waiting in line. The demand came after some who are not qualified are still falling in line and waiting for hours, only to be told later they are not included in the list. Joel Bacolod, the barangay head, posted on his Facebook account several mobile numbers that residents can contact to verify if they are included in SAP list. But according to residents, they are not responding. “Wag nyo naman paasahin mga tao... Magbibigay kayo ng pagkarami-raming number tapos ni isa walang magrereply (Don’t give people false hopes. You would give many contact numbers but none of these ever respond),” a certain Jhellan Dela Cruz claimed in a comment. The Manila Bulletin sought for comment both from the local government and the barangay captain as to why social distancing could not be enforced by authorities. They are yet to respond, as writing. Caloocan has already had 227 COVID-19 cases. According to the Department of Health, it is one of the top cities in the Philippines with the highest number of cases.