The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed its payout to nearly 400,000 student-beneficiaries as the distributed funds reached PHP941.6 million as of Tuesday.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez, during a Laging Handa press briefing on Tuesday, said they have served 375,485 clients.

He noted the agency has prioritized distributing to students who are residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

The agency also provided PHP35 million worth of educational assistance to 13,842 poor student beneficiaries in GIDAs.

“[Naipamahagi] ito [sa tulong ng] 18 mga payout centers.. iyong mga kababayan nating walang access sa internet, walang access sa gadgets, hirap pong pumunta ay lalapitan po ng DSWD (These were handed out through the 18 payout centers. Our countrymen who do not have access to the internet or means to acquire smartphones, those who have a hard time reaching out to us, the agency will reach out to them),” Lopez said.

The agency has allocated PHP1.5 billion to finance educational assistance for indigent students.

Lopez, however, said not everyone who underwent online registration shall automatically receive cash aid.

The agency, as performed in its other social programs, screened the registrations to prioritize those indigents.

Under the program, the DSWD will give a cash aid of PHP1,000 for elementary school students, PHP2,000 for junior high school students, PHP3,000 for senior high school students, and PHP4,000 for college or vocational course students.

The maximum number of students eligible for financial aid per family is three.

The distribution of educational assistance ends on Sept. 24, 2022. (PNA)