DSWD eyeing extra P500M for student cash subsidy

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THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing an additional P500 million to augment its budget for the one-time financial assistance for “indigent” and “students in crisis situations” to cover more recipients, Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said yesterday.

Tulfo, in several television and radio interviews, said the P500 million released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the subsidy may not be enough to cover all eligible beneficiaries, especially if the number of students who showed up during the first day of release last August 20 would remain the same until the end of September.

Tulfo said they needed additional funding because they have expanded the coverage of the educational aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

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“Another P500 (million) probably, about P1 billion. Nakita po namin iyung tao (and) because of the pandemic, the message is loud and clear: Marami tayong kababayan na naghihikahos at kailangan ng tulong (Another P500 million probably, about P1 billion. We saw the huge crowed, and because of the pandemic, the message is loud and clear: Many people are in need of help). I’m sure and I’m very, very positive that the government is listening, and we’ll help out I’m sure and I’m very, very positive that the government is listening, and we’ll help out,” he said.

The DSWD had only allocated P200 million to P300 million for the cash assistance in previous years because it was only given to children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), persons with disabilities and solo parents.

Under the current leadership, students eligible for the government support include breadwinners, working students, orphans, children of solo parents, children of jobless parents, children of OFWs, as well as victims of calamity and abuse.

The financial aid is limited to a maximum of three students per family and is given as follows: P1,000 to qualified elementary students; P2,000 to high school students; P3,000 senior high school students; and P4,000 vocational/college students.

The cash aid, which can be used for education-related expenses such as uniforms, books or transportation, will continue to be distributed on August 27, September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24.

As of August 22, the DSWD has distributed P154.006 million that benefitted 53,159 students all over the country.

Tulfo again apologized for the confusion during the initial implementation of the program after he initially said that student beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) were still eligible for the one-time cash aid. He clarified on Sunday that 4Ps families can no longer avail of the subsidy as they are already receiving a similar aid every month under the program.

Over the weekend, chaos attended the first-day distribution of the assistance after people flocked to the DSWD central office and its field offices to avail of the dole out, including those who were requesting for other assistance such as medical and funeral assistance.

To address the payout problem, the DSWD and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to lay down the guidelines for the inter-agency coordination for the distribution of the cash aid to indigent students.

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