THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday warned the public against scam messages asking recipients to register and click links to avail of its educational assistance under the in its Facebook page yesterday, had warned the public against scammers and to be wary of messages asking them to register to certain links to avail of an educational program under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS).
In its Facebook page, the DSWD urged text recipients not to register or click the links, pointing out that it has yet to decide on whether to implement the educational assistance program this year.
“Pabatid sa publiko: Walang link o anomang survey na pinasasagutan ang DSWD para makakuha ng educational assistance (Public advisory: DSWD is not sending out links or any survey to avail of an educational assistance),” the agency’s announcement read.
“Ang educational assistance sa ilalim ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation o AICS program ng DSWD ay wala pang tiyak na detalye kung kailan ito magsisimula. (There are no specific details yet as to when the educational assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or AICS program of DSWD will start),” it added.
It urged the public to be more discerning and to take a screenshot of suspicious messages and report it to them through their official Facebook page.
The DSWD last year implemented the one-time “Student in Crisis Program” which ran from August to September.
Under the program, poor students enrolled in elementary to college levels during the school year 2022-2023 received financial assistance that ranged from P1,000 to P4,000, depending on their grade level.
DSWD allotted P1.5 billion for the program that benefitted more than 400,000 poor students.
After the distribution of the educational aid, DSWD appealed to members of the House of Representatives to provide a similar cash assistance to poor students in their districts who failed to avail of the Student in Crisis financial program and in future implementation of the program.
Records from the Department of Education show that more than 28 million students were enrolled in public schools during the 2022-2023 school calendar.
Classes in public schools nationwide under Academic Year 2023-2024 is set to start on August 29.
