SOME 38,800 students received educational assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 as beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Lucero told SunStar Cebu on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, that a total of P104.7 million has been released to 38,773 students in the region during the aid distribution since Aug. 20.
Of the amount, P30.61 million was released to 10,488 students in Cebu Province, P15.5 million to 5,527 beneficiaries in Negros Oriental, P7.3 million to 2,752 beneficiaries from Bohol, and P1.2 million to 480 beneficiaries in Siquijor.
In Cebu, Cebu City had the most number of beneficiaries with 11,135 students and about P28.4 million cash released, followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 5,136 beneficiaries (P13.3 million), and Mandaue City with 3,255 beneficiaries (P8.2 million).
Lucero said among the challenges they encountered during the distribution was that many students failed to show up during their scheduled release date since they were in school. They were given a chance to claim the cash aid at a later date.
There were also some students who were not able to submit the complete requirements and were not able to claim the cash assistance.
Others also complained that they could not get into the DSWD website to register for the educational aid, said Lucero.
“Some of them (beneficiaries) have no internet connection and some failed to get into the website because of the traffic with all the people trying to register every time our website opens for registration,” she said.
The regional director explained that they could not accommodate all those who wanted to register due to limited funds.
Should there be another round of distribution, Lucero said they want to be more thorough and organized and they will make a complete database of all the student beneficiaries to avoid problems and inconvenience when releasing the cash aid.
She clarified, though, that there is no order yet to schedule another distribution.
For now, other financial assistance given by DSWD, such as their livelihood assistance grant under their livelihood assistance program, among others, will continue, Lucero said.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the DWSD targeted to release the educational assistance to 490 student beneficiaries on Saturday, the last day of pay-out.
Catherine Ladaga, social welfare officer 1 of the Lapu-Lapu City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said more than half of the target beneficiaries already received their cash assistance as of 11 a.m.
She said the 490 students in Lapu-Lapu City were among those who were not able to claim the assistance last Sept. 21 due to insufficient requirements.
Lagada said they will just wait for a directive from DSWD if those who did not submit the complete requirements and did not show up during their scheduled payout will still be allowed the claim the cash aid after the scheduled distribution. (With MKG)