President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought the orderly and immediate distribution of financial assistance to indigent students, Malacañang said on Saturday.

This, after thousands flocked to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) central office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City to avail of the educational aid two days before the opening of school year 2022-2023.

“Ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sa Department of Social Welfare and Development na siguruhin ang maayos at mabilis na payout ng educational assistance para sa students-in-crisis na bahagi ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure the orderly and swift payout of educational assistance for students-in-crisis which is part of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation),” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a Facebook post.

Marcos is monitoring the DSWD’s distribution of financial aid to eligible students, Cruz-Angeles said.

In a press conference earlier in the day, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the agency will sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to avoid a repeat of the uncontrolled crowd that camped outside its central office since Friday night.

Long queues were also reported in DSWD’s provincial offices, prompting Marcos to order the agency to seek local government units’ (LGUs) assistance for the distribution of educational assistance.

“Ayon kay DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, nais ng Pangulo na maging katuwang ng ahensya ang DILG sa pamimigay ng assistance para sa mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan (DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the President wants the DILG to assist the agency in distributing the assistance to students who are in need),” Cruz-Angeles said.

The DSWD has allocated PHP500 million for the cash aid for indigent students — PHP1,000 for elementary students, PHP2,000 for those in high school, PHP3,000 for those in senior high school, and PHP4,000 for those in college or taking up vocational courses.

Qualified beneficiaries must present their enrollment certificates and school identification cards to DSWD offices.

The assistance will be distributed at the DSWD central office, regional, provincial, and other local offices for six Saturdays until September 24. (PNA)