The Department of Social Welfare and Development will no longer accept walk-ins during the distribution of financial assistance to indigent students to avoid crowding at the payout sites.
To conduct a more orderly payout, the DSWD and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have agreed to release aid only to those who registered online or have a QR Code.
“That is the difference now, we will only cater to those (who) have already registered online or have acquired the QR code. We will no longer accept walk-ins to avoid what happened on the first day of the roll-out,” Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said on Wednesday during the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DILG at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
“There will be problems if we accept walk-ins again. That is my instruction,” he added.
The agency will create a virtual system for registration. While it is yet to announce the online system, the DSWD’s contact details for the program are 0931-796-0362 or ciu.co@dswd.gov.ph.
DSWD said qualified students must wait for the text confirmation for the schedule and processing of the cash assistance.
Tulfo expressed the belief that the glitch in the payout system last Saturday was a blessing in disguise as it forced DSWD to use a digital system.
“I think this is a blessing in disguise because the President wants to digitize government transactions and that digitalization will start here,” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tapped the DILG shortly after the “messy” distribution last Aug. 20.
Tulfo said the applicants will receive a text message from the DSWD on when they should go to the payout sites, which will be identified by the local government units. The beneficiaries will be called in alphabetical order, he added.
“Maybe this coming Saturday we will start with those whose surnames start with letters A to F, it will be nationwide,” he added.
The local government units will provide the payout site and additional manpower such as social workers who will help check the documents and police and barangay officers for peace and order.
Tulfo said the beneficiaries only need to bring their certificate of enrollment and identification card. They will be interviewed by personnel from DSWD central office and will immediately receive cash assistance right after.
“The payout will be right after the interview. We expect the process to be done in five to 10 minutes,” he said.
The DSWD will resume the payout distribution this Saturday after suspending it last week when huge crowds of students and parents flocked to the agency’s main and regional offices.
Through the DSWD’s program under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), cash aid will be provided to “students-in-crisis” to help defray costs of school tuition fees, school supplies, transportation allowance, and other school-related expenses.
As stated in the signed MOA, the DILG and its various Regional and Field offices shall exercise supervisory power over the local government units (LGUs) to ensure they act in accordance with the law.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said they will assist in the delivery of pertinent aid and humanitarian support under the convergence program, as he clarified that the financial aid would come from the DSWD and not from local elected officials.
“DSWD will have the list, not the governor, the mayor, or the barangay captain,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tulfo expressed his appreciation to the public for their understanding and patience.
“We are grateful to DILG, led by Secretary Abalos, for immediately extending their assistance to help DSWD find better ways to conduct the payout for the educational assistance, especially as we all need to ensure the safety and health of the clients as well,” he said.
“This partnership is what our government would like to establish—to have unity in action, employ bayanihan. A lesson which we learned well… especially last Saturday which was an eye opener,” Tulfo said.
The roll-out will be conducted every Saturday until Sept. 24, 2022.
Abalos said aside from 4Ps beneficiaries, local scholars or those receiving cash assistance from the local government are not qualified to get the educational aid from DSWD.
“The local scholars should no longer apply, if they receive benefits from the mayor or governor, they should be disqualified,” he said.
