DSWD: No Walk-Ins For Education Aid Payout; LGUs, Teachers Won’t Be Tapped For Distribution

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will no longer entertain walk-ins during its distribution of education assistance to poor students in various local government units (LGUs) starting this weekend, according to Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo.

“We are avoiding walk-ins for now because we have to fix, to fine-tune this. We expect people to crowd (the payout centers) again if we allow walk-ins,” Tulfo said in a press briefing at Malacañang on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

The DSWD chief advised those who will receive the cash aid to register online or through text message. After the registration, applicants will just have to wait for the confirmation on which DSWD office they will be assigned to.

“Almost everyone now has a cell phone… I don’t see any reason why they can’t register online. We also have SMS or through QR code,” he said.

“Another thing (is that) the digitalization of government agencies is the target of this administration, so I think this is a better way to start this practice,” he added.

On Wednesday, Tulfo and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos signed a memorandum of agreement for assistance in the distribution of the financial aid.

“We will provide support in terms of additional manpower. If they need site, we will discuss this, we will provide additional sites and, of course, our PNP (Philippine National Police) will be there to help them,” Abalos said at the same media briefing.

The DSWD tapped the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) after the chaotic distribution of cash aid to students last Saturday, Aug. 20.

Tulfo said he agreed with Abalos to call the qualified beneficiaries in alphabetical order, adding that he expects the entire process to be done in 10 minutes.

The DSWD chief thanked Abalos for lending resources of LGUs nationwide to ensure that the distribution of the educational aid in the next several Saturdays up to Sept. 24 will be more orderly and smooth and, at the same time, ensure the safety and health of everyone.

“This partnership is what this administration would like to establish – to have unity in action and employ bayanihan,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo also reminded the beneficiaries to bring only their certificate of enrollment and a valid identification card.

He said the agency has so far released P154 million to 53,000 students.

He added that the educational assistance, amounting to P1.5 billion, is expected to benefit up to 400,000 students nationwide.

LGUs, teachers won’t be tapped

Tulfo also said local government units (LGUs) won’t be tapped for the distribution of aid to avoid “patronage politics.”

According to Tulfo, the DSWD will handle everything from interviews to overall operations and will only seek minor assistance from the DILG.

Earlier, the League of Provinces of the Philippines urged the DSWD to let the provinces lead the distribution of the cash aid because of what has been described as a “disastrous” handling of its distribution.

LPP president and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said that while the national government’s intention to reach out and provide cash aid to the families of poor students is laudable, the DSWD should have been organized in its distribution.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News on Tuesday, Aug. 23, said the DSWD will deploy manpower to more than 1,400 LGUs for the distribution.

According to him, the public does not want LGUs to handle the educational aid payout due to past experiences of “unjust” treatment from government officials during the distribution of assistance at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tulfo also said during his press conference at Malacañang on Wednesday that teachers could not tapped for the aid distribution as well since they might be accused of conflict of interest or favoring blood-related recipients.

In DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the agency stated on its website that barangay officials who prioritize their families in the distribution of aid will be punished under the law.

4Ps recipients

Tulfo told The Chiefs on Tuesday that it has been working to retrieve the cash aid from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries who got their educational assistance from the first payout.

He said the agency plans to get back the money from the beneficiaries by gradually deducting it from their payout every two months.

Tulfo earlier explained that 4Ps beneficiaries are no longer entitled to receive the educational cash assistance.

P9 million for 3,899 Central Luzon students

Meanwhile, at least P9 million have been distributed to 3,899 students in Central Luzon as one-time educational cash assistance from the DSWD-Region 3.

Under the agency’s Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the DSWD-3 distributed the cash aid that can be used by students for buying school supplies and other materials.

Students who have benefited from the program were 1,034 in Tarlac, 802 in Bulacan, 658 in Nueva Ecija, 606 in Pampanga, 605 in Zambales, 184 in Bataan and 10 in Aurora.

Each elementary pupil was given P1,000; each junior high school student received P2,000; each senior high school student got P3,000 and those in college/vocational school received P4,000. – With Ric Sapnu, Rainier Allan Ronda, Romina Cabrera