DSWD-7 assures proper info on educational aid

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has assured the public that proper information dissemination will be done to guide the beneficiaries of the educational assistance in the succeeding schedules of payouts.

DSWD-7 acting regional director Shalaine Lucero said they will post announcements on the schedules, payout venue, and modifications to the process of claiming the financial aid under DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

The program provides aid to students in crisis to pay for their school fees, school supplies, projects, other fees, and allowance.

Students who are considered in crisis situation are those who are breadwinner, working student, orphan/abandoned and living with relatives, child of a single parent, a child whose parents are unemployed, child of an overseas Filipino worker, child abuse victim, having a parent with human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, and victim of calamity or disaster.

DSWD-7 has already started the payout to some beneficiaries last August 20, 2022, in time for the opening of classes. A total of P9,779,000 was released to 4,511 students in the region.

Out of the total number, 852 are college students, 741 are senior high school students, 1,230 are high school students, and 1,688 are in elementary.

The payouts were conducted in several sites in Metro Cebu including Barangay Guadalupe gym that caters to seven barangays in the south district of Cebu City--Calamba, Guadalupe, Labangon, Punta Princesa, Quiot, Pardo, and Tisa; T. Padilla Gym for the north district of  Cebu City covering the Barangays of T. Padilla, Day-as, Mabolo, Lorega, Hipodromo, Carreta, and Tejero; Mandaue City Hall covering barangays of Guizo, Mantuyong, Centro, Cambaro, Alang-alang, and Ibabao-Estancia; and in Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City covering beneficiaries from barangays Gun-ob, Looc, Pajo, and Poblacion.

Aside from Cebu, the field office also distributed educational assistance in the provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor through its Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) offices and Crisis Intervention Section in Cebu City.

“We visited the areas where our payouts are happening simultaneously and ang atoang overall assessment sa atoang distribution for the assistance today is good. Hinaut nga ang tanan magpailob ug mosabot sa pamaagi sa payout. Aduna pa kitay mga mosunod nga sabado ug paninguhaon sa DSWD in collaboration sa LGUs nga mas mapahapsay kini,” said Lucero.

Lucero thanked the local government units, Philippine National Police (PNP), and barangay officials and workers for ensuring the security and safety of all beneficiaries and DSWD staff present during the payout.

Qualified student-beneficiaries should bring their registration or enrollment certificate, a valid ID of their parents or guardian, and a valid ID of the college or vocational education student who will receive the assistance.

Each student will receive P1,000 for elementary, P2,000 for high school, P3,000 for senior high school, and P4,000 for college or vocational. — FPL (FREEMAN)