EDITORIAL - Have we not learned?

Days before the partial resumption face-to-face classes in schools, the Department of Social Welfare and Development announced it was distributing financial aid for students from indigent families; P1,000 for elementary students, P2,000 for high school students, P3,000 for senior high school students, and P4,000 for college students.

As a result thousands flocked to the DSWD offices around the country last Saturday. Some even lined up as early as Friday evening.

We all saw the chaos that ensued; parents thronging the DSWD offices in scenes reminiscent of the crush to get ayuda during the pandemic lockdowns, or thick crowds waiting for basic needs after a natural calamity.

Because there were just too many people and not all could be accommodated, the DSWD had to cut off some lines, leaving many not able to get the financial aid promised.

The fact that not all who lined up received their promised financial aid shows how the government was not prepared to deal with the number of people who showed up.

Of course, the fault is not entirely with the government. The chaos in many DSWD offices was also the likely result of our lack of discipline. It is a known fact that Filipinos have trouble forming or staying in a line. As soon as a crowd develops, and it becomes evident that not everyone can be served, the “kanya-kanya” mentality usually kicks in.

Have we not learned how to distribute or receive financial aid until now? Even after the lockdowns and all the natural calamities that have come our way?

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo has promised that the financial aid will soon be coursed through local government offices so that there will be a more spread-out distribution instead of just from DSWD offices.

“I am sorry. I apologize if you were not able to receive cash aid. But we did not say we will give everyone cash aid within today,” Tulfo said in a press conference. That’s fair enough, they never said everyone who came will get money that day, but this should have been relayed to the beneficiaries before they flocked to the offices.

Let’s hope DSWD follows through with this promise. Because a huge part of our population is in constant need of financial assistance from the government, as well as vulnerable to natural calamities, the giving of financial aid may become more commonplace in the coming future.