
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that its educational assistance program has distributed P141 million to 48,000 individuals across the nation.
The final report was submitted to DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo at 3 a.m. on August 21, a day after the program caused chaos in different parts of the country due to long lines of applicants at its national and local field offices.
“Forty-eight thousand (both online applicants and walk in) were assisted by the DSWD in the first Saturday of its educational assistance program,” Tulfo said in Filipino.
“A total of P141 million were distributed to students nationwide,” he added.
As the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs) have already partnered for the cash payout to qualified beneficiaries, Tulfo pledged that the system for the distribution of financial aid will be more systematic in the the next Saturdays.
The DSWD chief earlier apologized for the disorganized cash aid distribution system in its head office in Quezon City and field offices across the country on Saturday, August 20.
“We are very sorry. For those who are furious at us right now because we weren’t able to cater everyone, our sincerest apologies. We will do better next time and in the remaining five Saturdays,” he said.
Under the educational assistance program of the DSWD, elementary students from families in crisis are qualified to receive P1,000; high school students with P2,000; senior high students with P3,000; and college and vocational students with P4,000.
The program accepts up to three children per family as beneficiaries. The program will run for six Saturdays, beginning on August 20 until September 24.