Thousands frustrated after failing to get cash aid from DSWD
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Many came but only few were chosen.
This seemed to be the case on the first payout of the educational assistance for indigent students by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Saturday, Aug. 20, in this city.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 parents and students went to the DSWD head office, expecting to avail of the cash aid under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
Many patiently waited for more than 12 hours only to go home frustrated and empty-handed.
“Ang ilang gi-post (they posted) two-way registration; through online ug (and) walk-in. Ang (For) walk-in, wala man sila nag-entertain (they [DSWD-10] have not entertained). Ang katong mga nakasulod (those who were able to get inside), through online to sila nag-register (they registered through online),” one of the mothers told Manila Bulletin.
“Dili sila muingon nga dili nila entertenon, mupasabot sila sa mga naa diri kay gihagoan nato’g anhi diri (they should not say that they will not entertain the people here.., They should clarify since we also took effort to come here),” said Manily Elomba, one of the parents who had waited outside the DSWD-10 office since Friday night.
DSWD-10 Information Officer Roshiel Galia acknowledged the frustration of the applicants. However, she clarified that they did not prioritize the online registrants.
Galia explained that DSWD-10 has targeted to cater 400 applicants just for the regional head office in this city on the first day of payout.
This included 300 walk-in applicants and 100 individuals who registered online.
“Gitan-aw gyud namo, bisan unsaon sya pagbali-bali nga pag-overnight ug pagbinuntaga, dili gyud siya kaya. Ug tan-awon pud nato ang availability sa pundo karong adlawa (We really looked at it [the situation], even if we try overnight until morning, we will not be able to do it [ cater to other applicants], and we also looked at the availability of funds today),” she added.
Galia said an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 applicants have gone to the regional office of DSWD Northern Mindanao on the first day, based on the estimate from the police authorities who assisted the first payout day.
Apart from Cagayan de Oro residents, many residents from different parts of Misamis Oriental province also came here for the cash aid.
Many of them were worried after they had not received the assistance as they didn’t have enough money to pay for their fares back.
Despite the chaotic payout, a total of 2,306 students from different satellite offices in Northern Mindanao received cash aid. DSWD-Region 10 said they distributed ₱7,654,000 cash assistance to distressed students in the entire region.
The DSWD satellite office in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon had the highest number of beneficiaries among the satellite offices, including the regional office with 353 beneficiaries. The DSWDRegion 10 had the second highest number of beneficiaries at 342; DSWD satellite office in Iligan City served 328 beneficiaries; Valencia City, Bukidnon satellite office, 2I1; Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, 278; Maramag, Bukidnon and Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, 1I4 beneficiaries each; Camiguin, 155; Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, 113; and Tubod, Lanao del Norte, 58.
Due to the disorderly distribution, DSWD secretary Erwin Tulfo vowed to improve the system of payment to serve all applicants.
Under the AICS program, a qualified elementary student will receive ₱1,000; ₱2,000 for junior high school students; ₱3,000 for senior high school; and, ₱4,000 for vocational and college students.
The qualified recipients are students who are breadwinners; those working students; no parents or have been abandoned and currently living to the relatives; students of a solo parent; students with jobless parents; students from OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) parents, students with HIV positive parent(s); students victimized by abuse; and, students who got affected by the disaster.
3,620 indigent students served in Calabarzon
The DSWD reported on Sunday, Aug. 21, that 3,620 indigent students from the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) area received educational assistance on Saturday. They were assessed by DSWD social workers in seven payout and assessment centers region-wide and its regional office in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
The DSWD-Region 4-A said since the online registration opened Friday, Aug. 1I, they have received thousands of applications prompting them to open seven payout sites to serve those who want to ask for help.
Apart from its regional office in Alabang which received individuals from San Pedro City, Laguna and other parts of the region, other payout sites opened were in Sta. Cruz, Laguna for applicants from Sta. Cruz, Pagsanjan, Lumban, and Pila, Laguna; Antipolo City for Tanay, Teresa, Pililla, and Jalajala; Lian, Batangas for Lian and Nasugbu; Batangas City for San Jose and Lobo; and Lucena City for online registrants in the city.
DSWD Region 4-A said online registrants and walk-in applicants who did not get educational cash assistance Saturday will get a text message for the new schedule and location of their future assessment.
Tulfo said local governments will help distribute the educational assistance starting Saturday, Aug. 27, after people flocked to the their main office in Quezon City. (With a report from Daniel Estacio)