The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute financial assistance to indigent students every Saturday until September 24, Secretary Erwin Tulfo announced Thursday.
During a Palace briefing, Tulfo said the DSWD will give out P1,000 for elementary students, P2,000 for high school students, P3,000 for senior high school students, and P4,000 for college students or vocational courses.
He said there can be three beneficiaries per family.
“This program is under the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation,” Tulfo added.
“This program is aimed to help our indigent students all over the country, which means to say children coming from poor families will be given cash assistance to buy their school supplies or whatever that they need in school,” the secretary said.
Tulfo said the DSWD central office will open at 7 a.m. while regional, provincial, and satellite offices will open at 8 a.m.
Those who wish to avail of the assistance only need to bring their enrollment certificate and school ID.
“Now, who are qualified? All children living in poverty. Not only children of solo parents,” he said, later adding that beneficiaries of the 4Ps program are also qualified.
Tulfo said parents of elementary and high school students could get the assistance without bringing their children, while senior high school students and college students may get the cash themselves.
He said those interested may set appointments or they can walk in.
“I want this done immediately. But we advise you to email us first. Don’t worry, the budget has already been set aside for this. You will still receive it because we saved around P500 million in funds,” he said.
When asked how they can make sure that only indigents will avail of the assistance, Tulfo said he is hoping that only indigents will line up.
“The question is, how will we know? We are hoping that only indigents will avail of this. Maybe those with money will not line up for six hours just to get money for uniforms and school supplies,” he said.
Tulfo said he lessened the number of requirements, including a certificate of indigency from the barangay.
“There was something like that before. The problem is…we took it out for now. It will be bypassed because it is being politicized. That is very unfortunate,” he said.
“We received many complaints that the (barangay) chairman, or the barangay councilor, or the Office of the Mayor only give certificates to those who voted for them,” he added.
“We are distancing the project away from being politicized in distribution. There are suggestions but it will be easier if it will be downloaded to the municipal level. I don’t want that to happen the same as what happened on our SAP [Social Amelioration Program]; I want it really to be given to the children and to those who are poor.”
“I’m sorry, I mean, I might offend some people. But then, that’s just the way it is,” Tulfo added.