ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry Treñas here slammed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the chaotic distribution of educational aid for indigent students Saturday, Aug. 20.
“If there will be students who will be harmed, I will be filing criminal and administrative cases (against) all responsible for this stupid planning and execution,” said Treñas in a statement.
Thousands of students from the 42 towns and the component city of Iloilo province flocked to the Iloilo Sports Complex here to avail of the cash assistance.
“I am very worried about the situation. The Iloilo Sports Complex was at full capacity and there are still students outside in the streets. No coordination was ever made and this was not well,” added Treñas.
It was learned that indigent students and their parents arrived here late Friday night, Aug. 19, or the wee hours of Saturday to line up for the distribution. The numbers swelled as hours went by and certain streets leading to Iloilo Sports Complex had to be closed down.
It didn’t take long for the gates of the Iloilo Sports Complex to be closed after the venue could no longer physically accommodate people.
There were several students who fainted due to the heat as well as those who have not eaten breakfast or lunch.
In a video circulating online, DSWD-Region 6 Assistant Regional Director Delia Bagolcol pleaded with students and parents to go home as there are three Saturdays when distribution can be done.
“We announced this on Facebook and on the radio,” Bagolcol was telling a group of students who were not allowed to go inside the Iloilo Sports Complex.