DSWD: No more walk-ins during educational aid payout distribution

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will no longer be accepting walk-ins during the distribution of financial assistance to indigent students to avoid crowding at the payout sites.

“No. Kasi pag nag-walk in po magkakaproblema na naman po tayo. ‘Yun po ang mahigpit na instruction (There will be problems if we will accept walk-ins again. That is my instruction), this will be the difference,” DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said Wednesday during a press conference when asked if they will still be accepting walk-ins.

He advised those who want to receive the cash assistance to register online or email them at ciu.co@dswd.gov.ph. The applicants can also visit the DSWD website and social media accounts for other details.

“Aside from online, puwedeng QR code, puwedeng text kung hindi smartphone ang gamit nila, sasagutin naman namin. There is no more reason na sabihin nilang wala kaming cellphone. Tapos ‘yung mga anak nila nag-online naman last year, e di magpaturo po sila sa anak nila o ‘yung anak nila ang magregister. Madali lang po kaming hanapin, pupunta lang po sa website ng DSWD at d'un nila makikita ‘yun,” Tulfo said.

(Aside from online, they can also register through a QR code or send us a text message if they are not using a smartphone and we will answer them. There is no more reason to say they do not have a cellphone, their children had online class last year so they can ask them for help in the registration. They can easily find us, just go to our website and they can find the details there.)

He expressed belief that the glitch in the payout system last Saturday was a blessing in disguise as it forced them to use a digital system.

“I think this is a blessing in disguise kasi ang gusto ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. digitalize ang gobyerno, ang transaction ng mga kababayan natin ay digital, digitalization po kaya we have to start it now, dito mag-uumpisa (because the President wants to digitalize government transactions and that digitalization will start here),” he said.

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.

He added the beneficiaries will be called in alphabetical order.

"Pipiliin namin alphabetical, siguro this coming Saturday 'yung mga apelyido na nagsisimula sa letrang A hanggang F so 'yun muna ang ia-accommodate natin for this coming Saturday, nationwide 'yun," he said.

(It will be in alphabetical order, maybe this coming Saturday we will start with those whose surnames start with letters A to F, it will be nationwide.)

The DSWD will resume the payout distribution this Saturday after temporarily suspending it last week when huge crowds of students and parents flocked to the agency's main and regional offices.

Tulfo signed a memorandum of agreement with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos for assistance in the educational aid distribution.

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 the cash assistance right after.

"D'un na mismo ang payout, in five to 10 minutes mabayaran siya, 'yun na ang maximum na ineexpect namin (The payout will be right after the interview. We expect the process to be done in five to 10 minutes)," he said.

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.

"'Yung local scholars hindi na pwedeng kumuha, kung may benefit na sila galing sa iba, sa mayor, governor (The local scholars should no longer apply, if they receive benefits from the mayor or governor), they should be disqualified," he said.—AOL/KBK, GMA News