INTERESTED applicants for the two Davao City Government assistance programs for pandemic-stricken individuals, Work For Davao and Eskwela Davao, are only given until today, July 3, 2020, to apply.
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) supervising commissioner for Mindanao Norman Baloro, who is in-charge of the two programs, said they had to set the deadline to give them time to choose and screen those qualified for both programs.
Work for Davao program is an emergency employment cash for work for individuals who were terminated or laid off due to business or office foreclosures because of the restrictions imposed to mitigate the effect of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Eskwela Davao, on the other hand, is an educational assistance program for the children of workers whose income has been affected by Covid-19.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the City Government will select 42,915 beneficiaries for Work For Davao, and 22,000 students for Eskwela Davao.
Baloro said they have received an "overwhelming" number of applicants for both programs, based on the endorsed application forms.
For Work For Davao, he said they have received 53,978 application forms from 12 political districts, while 23,412 application forms were submitted in the different levels for Eskwela Davao.
"Very overwhelming ang atong support or ang desire sa atong mga kaigsoonang Dabawenyo to avail of the two projects with the number of application forms nga nakuha nato sa nagkalain-laing districts sa syudad sa Davao (We have received overwhelming support or desire from our fellow Dabawenyos in availing of the two projects based on the number of application forms we received from all districts in Davao City)," he said in a One Davao Covid-19 virtual presser on Wednesday afternoon, July 1.
He also emphasized that even far-flung districts such as Marilog and Paquibato also availed of the city assistance.
Bolero said they will assess those who can avail of the program.
"It is a challenge for us. Diri namo ma-deepen ang among assessment (This is where we have have a deeper assessment [of the applications]) and for the social worker to have sound judgment," he said.
Baloro said that while everyone is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the City Government has to prioritize those who are really in need, considering the budget constraints allocated for the funding of the two programs.
Duterte-Carpio previously said that around P50 million were allocated for Eskwela Davao, while P159,944,000 were allocated for Work For Davao, both sourced from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) grant requested by the city last year.
The mayor said the grant was not really intended as a Covid-19 aide, but she said the money was a "blessing in disguise" since it could somehow help indigent individuals and their families who are in need of assistance brought about the Covid-19 pandemic.
Baloro, meanwhile, reminded applicants that they can only avail themselves of one of the two programs to give everyone a chance to apply.