More funds should be allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in order to help more indigent students, said Gabriela Partylist on Saturday, Aug. 20.
“Dapat dagdagan ang pondo para sa ayuda lalo’t bugbog na bugbog na sa krisis at taas-presyo ang mga kababayan natin (Funds for aid should be increased especially since Filipinos are already battered by the crisis and increasing prices of commodities),” said Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas.
Brosas then underscored that the program needs an additional P2 billion in order for the aid to be sufficient. She also demanded to increase the supposedly P4,000 aid of college students to P10,000.
“Gawing P10,000 ang student aid dahil kahit P4,000 para sa magkokolehiyo ay hindi sapat para tustusan ang pinaka batayang pangangailangan para sa balik-eskwela (Make the student aid P10,000 because even the P4,000 for college students is not enough to finance the most basic needs for going back to school),” she furthered.
A total of P500 million fund has been allocated for the DSWD’s cash assistance program. Elementary students may get P1,000 while high school learners may receive P2,000. Senior high students are entitled to receive P3,000, while college or vocational students may get P4,000.
Up to three children from each family may qualify for the said financial assistance program. They may receive this one-time cash assistance until Sep. 24.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Filipinos swarmed outside DSWD’s Central Office on Saturday – the first day of aid distribution, while some even lined up on Friday night to secure their spots. The situation in DSWD’s regional and satellite offices were no different as Filipinos braved long lines in order to get hold of the said aid.
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, on the other hand, said they are “sorry” and that they will further assess the situation to “recalibrate” and “adjust” the distribution scheme.