Distribution of educational aid has improved, claims DSWD spokesperson

The distribution of cash assistance to students-in-crisis went smoothly on Saturday, Aug. 27, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
“Sa ating assessment [dito sa DSWD-NCR Field Office), malaki po ang naging improvement dun sa naging payout natin noong Saturday, August 20. Ito po ay ikinatutuwa namin at ang magbebenepisyo po dito yun atin pong nga kababayan na nangangailangan ng educational assistance. So ito rin po ang ating assessment sa buong bansa (In our assessment here at the DSWD-NCR, there was a big improvement from our payout on Saturday, August 20. We are happy about this as people who need educational assistance will benefit from it. So this is also our assessment throughout the country),” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez said in his update posted on DSWD’s social media page.
The DSWD had advised applicants to register online as a walk-in application will no longer be accommodated following the reported disorderly distribution process on Aug. 20.
Lopez said there were over 200 payout sites nationwide.
“Ang target po natin ngayong araw nasa 90,000 plus yung ating maabot ng tulong (Our target today, August 27, is 90,000 plus students who will be given cash aid),” Lopez pointed out.
Each student may receive P1,000 for those in elementary, P2,000 for those in high school, P3,000 for those in senior high school, and P4,000 for those in college/vocational school.
“Inaasahan po natin na malaking bagay po ito lalo’t apat na Sabado pa after nito yung atin pong gagawing pamamahagi ng educational assistance. Ang panawagan lang natin sa ating mga kababayan talagang hintayin na magkaroon ng text confirmation at doon, kung saan sila papupuntahin at kailan para maiwasan ang siksikan. Kasi kung tayo po ay susunod ito po yung patunay na kaya naman po natin ayusin yung sistema (We expect this to be a huge help, especially since there will still be four Saturdays after this that we will distribute educational assistance. Our only appeal to our countrymen is to wait for the text confirmation that tells them where and when they will go to avoid overcrowding at our payout sites. This is a proof that we can fix the system),” he said.
Lopez also said that the DSWD is threshing out the guidelines “this week” on how to help those who do not have access to the internet or smartphone access.
The payout was scheduled for six consecutive Saturdays from Aug. 20 to Sept. 24.