The San Juan City local government distributed educational financial assistance to person with disabilities (PWD) students on Wednesday, Dec. 21, as part of its efforts in boosting educational quality.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the program implemented by the city’s Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) held at the San Juan Gym, where 300 San Juan PWD students from kinder to college received P4,000 cash benefit from the city’s own fund.
According to him, a total of P1.2 million was allocated for the said program. SPED students from Kabayanan Elementary School and Pinaglabanan Elementary School were given priority in the project.
The city government explained that PDAO carefully vetted and screened the applicants before coming up with the final list of recipients since September 2022.
“Asahan ninyo na ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng San Juan ay nandito para tumulong at sumuporta sa inyo. Bilang isang ama, gusto kong makatapos ang aking mga anak. Alam kong kayo ay ganun din. Kaya ito po ay ginawa namin para konting tulong para sa inyo (Rest assured that the city government of San Juan is here to help and support all of you. As a father, my wish is for my children to finish their studies, that's why I know that you also wish the same for your children. That's the reason why we are doing this program for you)," Zamora said.
The mayor also announced that an additional P3,000 assistance will be given to them by next year before the school year ends, increasing PDAO’s budget for this program from P1.2 million to P1.5 million next year.
He also assured the parents and recipients of the city’s continued support for the PWDs.
“Please always remember, kung anuman ang medical needs ng mga anak ninyo, may pondo tayong makakatulong sa inyo. Kung kailangan ng procedure, gamot, therapy, ‘wag kayong mag-atubiling lumapit dahil may nakalaang pondo tayo para d’yan mula sa PDAO, Office of the Mayor at Public Assistance Center (Please always remember that whatever your children's medical needs are, we have funds available that can help you. If they need procedures, medicines, or therapy, please don't hesitate to come to us because PDAO, the Office of the Mayor, and the Public Assistance Center have funds for that)."
To claim the financial aid, students or their parents must present their PWD IDs with valid IDs.
Minor claimants or those who are 17 and below and those who cannot physically receive the cash aid can have their parents or relatives get them provided that they present an authorization letter and valid IDs.