The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) has requested for additional PHP29.4 million for the release of educational assistance to qualified beneficiaries in the region on Aug. 27.
Atty. May Rago-Castillo, the department’s regional information for Western Visayas, said on Monday that 5,260 recipients benefited during the first day of the roll-out on Aug. 20 where PHP21.37 million was disbursed.
The most number of beneficiaries came from provinces of Iloilo with 1,713; Aklan has 719; Antique – 613; Capiz – 957; Guimaras – 671; and Negros Occidental with 587.
“We were supposed to release PHP27 million on Saturday,” she said in an interview.
The remaining fund will be added to the PHP29.4 million that the department is requesting to be disbursed next weekend.
She said they are still finalizing the manner of the distribution as DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo earlier said mentioned they will be coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units.
“For sure there will be adjustments to improve. They are having a coordinating meeting now,” Castillo said. In Iloilo, he said they will prioritize those who were not served and advised to go home last Saturday.
At least 692 individuals were advised to go home since they could no longer be accommodated at the payout venue at the Iloilo Sports Complex as well as the applicants from the city and province of Iloilo.
To avoid the long line, applicants are advised to register either through the DSWD QR code, by accessing the https://bit.ly/dswdfo6EducAssistance or email to dswd.educassistance@gmail.com.
As of Aug. 22, they already received around 31,000 applicants in Western Visayas via the QR code, she said.
Castillo said applications via email and QR code will be properly responded to.
The educational assistance was intended for students in crisis enrolled this school year to include breadwinners, working students, children of unemployed parents, solo parents, overseas Filipino workers in distress, those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); orphaned, abandoned or staying with their relatives; abused or displaced children; and victims of human-induced or natural calamities
The department has earlier set the distribution on Aug. 20 and 27 and Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 24.
Qualified beneficiary enrolled in elementary grades will receive PHP1,000; PHP2,000 for secondary; PHP3,000 for Senior High School; and PHP4,000, college/vocational course. The assistance is limited to three children per family. (PNA)
