BUTUAN CITY – Two-thousand, one-hundred fifty college students in Siargao Island recently received educational aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
MATUGAS (center). (Photo courtesy of Rep. Bingo Matugas Constituency Office)
Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas II said P8.6 million was allotted with each
recipient receiving P4,000.
Matugas said the amount will benefit students. “This amount is a big help to our island students,” he said.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez facilitated the release of the amount. “The funding was released through the approval of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and also the help of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez," Matugas said.
Matugas said the financial aid to students will continue not only in Siargao Island but also in other colleges in Surigao del Norte, including Surigao City.
A total of 992 students from the Surigao del Norte State University in Del Carmen and 840 students from the Siargao Island Institute of Technology in Dapa received assistance Three-hundred eighteen students from Bucas Grande Foundation College in Socorro also received the same assistance.
“This cash aid program will benefit more than 4,000 college students province-wide,” Matugas added.
Meanwhile, DSWD-13 Regional Information Office chief Marko Davey Reyes said they have provided Psychological First Aid (PFA) to 332 school children affected by a recent gun battle between the government and communist insurgents in Agusan del Norte.
Seventeen social workers and 13 interns joined hands in the activity that seeks to alleviate stress symptoms and support the positive recovery of the children after their stressful and traumatic experience.