People still troop to DSWD Central Office hoping to get educational assistance

Some people still trooped to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office in Quezon City on Saturday hoping to receive educational assistance as walk-in applicants, despite the DSWD's prior announcement that application is already closed.

A line of hopeful beneficiaries was seen outside the DSWD Central Office on Saturday morning, with some of them having arrived even before dawn, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Dobol B TV.

A few of those in line said it was their second time to fall in line. They said they could not file their application online for the educational assistance so they went to the DSWD Central Office to personally submit their application on Saturday.

Several posters have been put up however near the entrance to advise the public that the DSWD is no longer processing applications.

"Ang DSWD Central Office ay hindi na magpo-proseso ng educational assistance sa ika-10, 17 at 24 ng Setyembre taong 2022," the poster read.

Security guards have also been repeatedly advising the people in line to just go home as they will not be allowed entry into the DSWD Central Office and there would be no payout of educational assistance here.

However, the people were still in line as of 7:30 a.m.

The situation was however peaceful as compared to past Saturdays.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Rommel Lopez, 113,942 are targeted to be given educational assistance on the fifth Saturday of the payout, September 17, at local government sites.

The DSWD began giving out educational assistance on August 20, with crowds flocking to its offices.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo earlier announced that the agency will distribute financial assistance to indigent students every Saturday until September 24.

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.

Those who wish to avail of the assistance only need to bring the enrollment certificate and their school ID.

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.

After the chaotic situation at DSWD offices on the first Saturday of the payout, the department said it will no longer accept walk-ins during the distribution of financial assistance to indigent students to avoid crowding at the payout sites. Applicants were then advised to apply online.

The online application however was closed earlier this month due to the high volume of applications against limited available funds.

Tulfo said that over two million have registered online for the educational assistance program.

The program has a budget of P1.5 billion. —KG, GMA News